Time Matters: Respecting Grandfather Time-Sleep, Biological Rhythms and the Elderly

Donald L. McEachron, Ph.D.
Teaching Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University

Background:

Ph.D. in Neuroscience awarded in 1984 from the University of California at San Diego. Returned to the classroom for a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from Drexel University in 2004.

Author of some 60 publications in neuroscience, imaging, human evolution, education and chronobiology

Recently published first of 2-volume set on biological rhythms: Chronobioengineering: Introduction to Biological Rhythms with Applications, Volume 1

Overview:

Humans show numerous legacy effects resulting from their evolutionary heritage. One of these is the critical role played by biological rhythms, especially circadian rhythms, in maintaining health and well-being. The modern urban 24/7 society threatens the stability of these rhythms, resulting in poor physiological and psychological health.

An accurate biological clock synchronized to the daily cycle of day and night is a key component to both physiological and mental health. Unfortunately, research indicates that the main biological clock in humans becomes les stable as we age. Compounding this problem, people also lose light sensitivity with age, making it more difficult to synchronize to light/dark cycles. In this session, we will discuss the implications of these data for the elderly and how environments could be developed to mitigate these effects.

3 Key Points:

1. The main biological clock becomes less stable as humans age
2. The eyes experience loss of retinal light sensitivity and yellowing of the lens which makes it more difficult for the elderly to sense light and thus synchronize to light/dark cycles.
3. Lighting can be designed which lessens these changes to potentially improve health and well-being in the elderly