Woke up in a new time zone, but your brain stayed home?<\/p>\n
You\u2019re not alone. Each year, more than 100 million people<\/a> experience jet lag \u2014 a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when rapid long-distance travel disrupts the body\u2019s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm.<\/p>\n That mismatch can trigger a wide range of symptoms as the body works to adjust to its new local time, including sleep disruption<\/a>, brain fog, headaches, extreme fatigue, mood changes and general misery.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Crossing three or more time zones makes jet lag almost inevitable. stokkete \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But relief may be coming. <\/p>\n Japanese scientists say they\u2019ve created a drug that can \u201creset\u201d the internal clock forward, dramatically shortening jet lag recovery time in mice \u2014 and perhaps, eventually, in humans.<\/p>\n Such a treatment could be a game-changer for frequent long-haul travelers and for people who work night shifts or rotating schedules, who often endure a chronic form of jet lag<\/a> due to irregular sleep-wake cycles.<\/p>\n In the study<\/a>, researchers highlighted a new oral compound called Mic-628.<\/p>\n The drug works by activating a key internal clock gene known as Per1. It does this by binding to CRY1, a protein that normally suppresses Per1, allowing the gene to become active. <\/p>\n The result is a forward shift of the circadian rhythm not only in the brain\u2019s master clock, but also in the thousands of peripheral clocks found in nearly every cell, tissue and organ throughout the body. <\/p>\n These peripheral clocks regulate everything from metabolism and sleep cycles to hormones, cellular maintenance and daily variations in body temperature and blood pressure. <\/p>\n The oral compound developed by Japanese scientists may reduce jet lag recovery time from seven days to four. fizkes \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n When tested in mice, a single oral dose of Mic-628 realigned circadian rhythms in just four days, compared with seven days in untreated mice. <\/p>\n The findings suggest the compound may serve as a prototype \u201csmart drug\u201d for managing jet lag or shift work. <\/p>\n This could be especially useful for eastward travel, which requires advancing the internal clock<\/a> \u2014 a process that normally takes longer and is physiologically harder<\/a> than delaying it, as occurs with westward travel.<\/p>\n Notably, the compound advanced the circadian clock regardless of when it was administered. <\/p>\n That \u201ctime-independent\u201d effect is significant, since existing interventions like light therapy<\/a> or melatonin<\/a> are highly timing-dependent and often produce inconsistent results. <\/p>\n \u201cThese findings underscore the potential of selective Per expression as a therapeutic approach for human circadian rhythm disorders,\u201d the study authors wrote in PNAS.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate Mic-628\u2019s safety and effectiveness in further animal and human studies. <\/p>\n Eastward travel is generally more disruptive to the body\u2019s internal clock than westward travel. EdNurg \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n It is a breakthrough that couldn\u2019t come soon enough. <\/p>\n Jet lag is typically short-lived, resolving within a few days once the body\u2019s circadian rhythm adjusts. <\/p>\n However, studies have shown<\/a> that the fear or anticipation of jet lag\u2019s discomfort can cause people to avoid traveling, particularly to destinations that require crossing multiple time zones.<\/p>\n For frequent long-haul flyers \u2014 including pilots, flight attendants and business travelers \u2014 as well as workers with irregular schedules, jet lag can become chronic and lead to complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n When the circadian rhythm is consistently out of sync, it can contribute to sleep disorders such as insomnia and may also increase the risk of health problems including depression, diabetes and certain types of cancer. <\/p>\n While you wait for science to catch up, experts say there are a few steps you can take to prevent or lessen the impacts of jet lag. <\/p>\n That includes shifting your bedtime<\/a> a few days before traveling, skipping meals<\/a> during the flight, limiting alcohol intake on board, avoiding naps after landing and getting in some light exercise<\/a> once you arrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Woke up in a new time zone, but your brain stayed home? You\u2019re not alone. 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