Live data from Hacker News

Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

newatlas.com

81–90 of 181 posts

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#81
post #55

I believe in 100 years we'll look back in horror at our society's casual indifference to routinely waking adolescents, a group with the latest shifted circadian rhythms, wake up before dawn. Much the same way that we look back at horror with the past's casual indifference to smoking.

I think we have it backwards, the problem is going to sleep late.

I agree, I'm a night owl myself, but I don't think it's natural or healthy. In hunter-gatherer societies the last one to go to sleep was at midnight (youngsters) and by 8 am everyone was awake.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And in bed at sundown.

I don't think so, especially not 100 years ago. There were too many good radio programs and before that there were other people to talk to and even alone, there were the stars. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/10/the-many...

I don't find a convincing argument to use people living in traditional societies in Tanzania to illuminate the sleeping cycles of people in industrialized Western societies 100 years ago for people who had to be at a factory or office by 8am.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#83
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we have it backwards, the problem is going to sleep late.

Some people aren't tired just because the clock says 9pm or even 12a. Some people are more awake and energetic in the evening, and less so in the AM, and other vice-versa. The early rising == good thing is an old moralism that can't die quickly enough, since it's not fair to people who for whatever genetic reason don't have bodies that behave like that.

I thought this too then I lived in a room without shades for months. Amazing how I started to wake up earlier and earlier and get tired earlier and earlier.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#84
What does this mean for people with severe Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome (DSPS)? I do not feel the need for sleep until usually about 2am, and I find it exceedingly difficult to wake up before 10am.

And yes, it's made it extremely difficult to live a "normal" life like your typical person who can wake up at 7am without issue. It's been a problem with relationships, poor performance in school, issues in promotions and work performance, etc.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#85
post #59
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we have it backwards, the problem is going to sleep late.

The problem is not listening to our body requests. If you are tired, you should you sleep, and then avoid alarms to wake up.

> The problem is not listening to our body requests.

I learned in my late 20's when you constantly burn the candle at both ends, your body will eventually make that decision for you and just shut down on its own.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#86
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect the same will be true about artificial light. Our sleep cycles changed dramatically with the introduction of electric light. A few years back I built an automated lighting system [1] for my apartment that was basically a scaled-up version of a light-based alarm clock [2]. I got the expected benefit, getting up more easily in the morning. But it turned out the bigger benefit was going to sleep at a more regu…

I'd say artificial light might have had the same effect internet has on us. Prior to it, we had to follow nature's cycle, then we made our own schedule. Internet allows to choose ad infinitum .. we're unregulated by the slow capped technologies of the past, the burden is on us to stop.

I spent a summer in Thailand on a small island living in a remote shack with no power. I was totally beholden to the natural light other than an oil lamp and I tiny pen torch I had. I had the best sleep I've ever had, but I'd wake super early with the sun rise and actually feel like getting up and doing stuff.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

only 100 years ago most would be waking up before dawn to milk the cows.

And only a few hundred years ago jaw size supposedly started shrinking leading to increased sleep disordered breathing, at least that's what some researchers claim. Also, hunter-gatherer societies may get less sleep than the recommended. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/10/the-many... And the San and Tsimane may not have a word for insomnia because they have bigger airways?

I think jaw size is probably related to the foods we eat. (Less reason to develop a strong jaw if you aren’t eating tough stuff) At least, that’s what I read on HN some months back. It’s why our teeth need more alignment too. Not enough space.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#88

Am I starting to understand that people with Alzheimer were all part of "hustle culture" when they were younger? Guess we should teach discipline in a different way, or just acknowledge that our socioeconomic circumstances will never materially change - or at least have a real ceiling - outside of complete luck.

You might be starting to have that understanding but whether it's correct is a completely separate question. Even if this study were proof that poor sleep is 100% causal of Alzheimer's (it's not even close), that would neither be proof that all Alzheimer's is caused by poor sleep nor proof that members of "hustle culture" sleep less. You've made about three or four unsupported inferences.

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#89
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And only a few hundred years ago jaw size supposedly started shrinking leading to increased sleep disordered breathing, at least that's what some researchers claim. Also, hunter-gatherer societies may get less sleep than the recommended. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/10/the-many... And the San and Tsimane may not have a word for insomnia because they have bigger airways?

I think jaw size is probably related to the foods we eat. (Less reason to develop a strong jaw if you aren’t eating tough stuff) At least, that’s what I read on HN some months back. It’s why our teeth need more alignment too. Not enough space.

It's also related to how long breastfeeding is continued and to whether you have allergies (or other reasons to start mouth breathing).

Re: Biomarker of Alzheimer's found to be regulated by sleep cycles

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people aren't tired just because the clock says 9pm or even 12a. Some people are more awake and energetic in the evening, and less so in the AM, and other vice-versa. The early rising == good thing is an old moralism that can't die quickly enough, since it's not fair to people who for whatever genetic reason don't have bodies that behave like that.

I thought this too then I lived in a room without shades for months. Amazing how I started to wake up earlier and earlier and get tired earlier and earlier.

People with the night owl genetics wouldn't care about sunlight.
Post reply on HN