an imbalance of the biological clock in question ?

The ESSENTIAL

• Older men with a circadian rhythm which is irregular, are more at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease
• The circadian rhythm includes all of our biological mechanisms, physiological, and behavioral 24-hour
• About 160 000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease in France

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It is estimated that 160 000 the number of people with Parkinson’s disease in France. This neurodegenerative disease is the second leading cause of motor disability after cerebrovascular accidents (STROKE). According to a recent study conducted by the UCSF, Weill Institute for Neuroscience (Usa) and published in the JAMA Neurology, older men with a circadian rhythm which is irregular, are more at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

The activity of the circadian rhythm on health

The circadian rhythm includes all of our biological mechanisms, behavioral and physiological cyclical over a period of 24 hours : the rhythm, sleep/sleep, the production of urine and stools, hair growth, cellular metabolism, blood circulation, change in alertness or body temperature.

“The activity of the circadian rhythm appears to be really important for health, especially at an advanced age. In this study, we found that even small changes of the circadian rhythm in older men were associated with a greater likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease”says Kristine Yaffe, vice-chair of the department of psychiatry at UCSF and author of the main study.

A track of early detection of the disease

In arriving at this conclusion, researchers recruited 2930 men whose average age 76.3 years. None of them was suffering from Parkinson’s disease when the study began and all were living in long-term care Facility. Their state of health was strictly monitored and their circadian rhythm monitored through a actimetry, a kind of a wristwatch to measure the activity of the person who wears it. Seventy-eight of the 2 930 participants received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and in each of these cases, their results confirmed that they were three times more likely to be achieved.

“If the research indicates that sleep problems or problems circadian are risk factors of neurodegeneration before the onset of symptoms is traditional, we might be able to use this information for detection and diagnosis of early, or we might be able to intervene so as to prevent the development of a loss neurodegenerative disorder of function”, observe the researchers. However, other studies still need to be carried out on the subject.

Parkinson’s disease is the second neurodegenerative disorder (behind Alzheimer’s) the most frequent of the nervous system. It is due to the progressive degeneration of a particular class of nerve cells secreting dopamine in the brainstem and under the cerebrum. This deficit causes a poor control of involuntary movements and automatic (that one does without thinking).

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