Human internal clocks exhibit more diversity than simply "night owl" or "early bird," identifying five distinct chronotypes associated with different behavioral and health patterns
A study led by McGill University identified five distinct biological sleep-wake profiles, challenging the traditional 'night owl' and 'early bird' categories. These profiles, revealed through AI analysis of brain imaging and medical records from over 27,000 adults, are associated with varying health and behavioral patterns. The findings suggest a more personalized approach to sleep support, recognizing the complexity of human sleep patterns.
Using AI, researchers combined brain imaging with questionnaires and medical records from more than 27,000 adults in the U.K. Biobank. The work drew on computational resources from the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, and contributions from collaborators at Université de Montréal and the University of Oxford.
Their analysis revealed three types of night owls and two types of early birds.
One group of early birds had the fewest health problems overall, while the other was closely tied to depression.
As for night owls, one performed better than other groups in cognitive tests but had more emotional-regulation challenges. Another group showed a tendency toward risk-taking behaviours and cardiovascular problems, while a third was more likely to have depression, smoke and face higher risks of heart disease.
“These subtypes are not defined only by bedtime or wake-up time. They reflect a complex interaction of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors,”
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