All animals including humans have a biological clock. This clock is important for controlling the daily in many of our bodily processes. Recently there has been evidence that the biological clock plays a role in aging.

We all have a circadian (Latin, circa=about, diem=day) rhythm. This is the daily rhythm of our bodies. Our biological clock that gives us a rhythm that lasts about 24 hours. In most people the circadian rhythm is not exactly 24 hours, it can be slightly shorter or longer, but it adjusted by external cues such as light. During the clock period, besides obvious things like sleep, a large number of things vary during the period. For instance did you know the majority of the cholesterol that your body makes, is produced at night?

For humans to maintain optimal health, it is important to follow the rhythms of the clock. Continued disturbances of the biological clock have been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Short term disturbances can lead to a range of symptoms including mood alteration, fatigue, and insomnia. Think about how awful you feel, and how poorly you function with jet lag, while resetting the biological clock.

As we age our biological clock does not function as strongly as it does when we are younger. This increases the chances of getting insomnia and many of our bodies processes not functioning on a tight a schedule.

In the last couple of years, there has been evidence that the biological clock is also tied to regulation of production of energy. It has been shown that biological clock is involved in the regulation of glucose. Disregulation of glucose and insulin insensitivity is involved in the development of diabetes. This losing of regulation of glucose may play a role in the increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes increases as we age.

Now recent research has linked the biological clock to SIRT1, which is often called the longevity gene. SIRT1 is also linked to energy metabolism in the body. The researchers suggest that energy intake via food can via SIRT1 influence the biological clock and this too may play a role in the aging.

photo credit: robstephaustralia

[tags]biological clock, circadian rhythm, glucose, aging, SIRT1, diabetes[/tags]