Kristen Knutson Browse All Authors Top 6 quotes by Kristen Knutson It's a cross-sectional study, so we can't say anything about cause and effect or what came first, the mood disorder or the circadian disruption, and it's likely they affect each other in a circular fashion. Kristen Knutson health-news Blue light is the spectrum that signals the clock in the brain, and it is the spectrum that suppresses melatonin, melatonin is a hormone that plays an important role in maintaining the synchronization of the clocks in all our body's cells. Disruption of these clocks is thought to increase the risk of cancer. Kristen Knutson top-news That finding was unexpected but suggests that it is really the blue light that is important for cancer rather than just general brightness of light. Kristen Knutson top-news The strength of this study is that it is a prospective study, which means short sleep was associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, this is important because the sleep duration was measured before the people had the disease. Kristen Knutson health-news This study underscores to me the importance that if a person doesn't think they are sleeping well, they should talk to their doctor. Kristen Knutson top-news People generally don't sleep more than they should, and if you are laying in bed and can't sleep, the general recommendation is to get up. Kristen Knutson top-news