Ep 038: Circadian Scientist Dr. Martin Moore-Ede Explains How Artificial Light At Night Leads To Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer
Aug 24, 2023
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Dr. Martin Moor-Ede explains how artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and cancer. He emphasizes the need for better lighting solutions to protect our health and discusses the impact of blue light on glucose metabolism and appetite. The podcast explores the correlation between light exposure and health problems, especially in children's growth and development, highlighting the importance of managing light for improved sleep and overall well-being.
Disruption of circadian rhythms by blue-rich light at night leads to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Regulating exposure to specific wavelengths of blue light, especially at 480 nm, is crucial for maintaining healthy circadian rhythms.
Implementing healthier lighting solutions, removing blue light at night, and mimicking natural daylight patterns can positively influence circadian rhythms and mitigate health risks.
Deep dives
The Impact of Light on Circadian Rhythms and Health
Light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating circadian rhythms and overall health. Dr. Martin Moore-Eade, an expert in circadian clocks, highlights how disrupting these rhythms can lead to various health issues including sleep disorders, fatigue, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The availability of blue-rich LED lights, prevalent in current lighting solutions, poses a significant challenge to maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm.
The Critical Role of Blue Light in Health
Blue light exposure at night has been linked to detrimental health effects such as disrupted glucose metabolism, increased appetite, insulin resistance, and potential cancer risks. The specific wavelengths of blue light, particularly around 480 nm, have been identified as significant in synchronizing circadian rhythms and influencing different physiological processes, making it crucial to regulate exposure to this type of light, especially during nighttime.
Practical Solutions for Healthier Light Habits
Addressing the imbalance in artificial lighting, Dr. Moore-Eade emphasizes the importance of implementing healthier lighting solutions both at home and in public spaces. By prioritizing the removal of blue light at night and creating a light diet that mimics natural daylight patterns, individuals can positively influence their circadian rhythms and mitigate associated health risks.
Impacts of Lighting on Mental Health and Well-being
Light exposure and circadian disruption have far-reaching effects on mental health, with anxiety disorders becoming increasingly prevalent, even among children and adolescents. Studies indicate that specific directions of sunlight exposure in hospital rooms can lead to improved patient outcomes and shortened hospital stays, underscoring the critical connection between light, circadian rhythms, and mental well-being.
Educational and Advocacy Efforts for Circadian Health
Dr. Moore-Eade advocates for comprehensive education on the impacts of light exposure on health, especially in school environments and healthcare settings. By raising awareness about the role of light in regulating circadian rhythms and promoting daytime light exposure, individuals can take proactive steps to improve their health and well-being. Additionally, the need for advocacy and policy changes to prioritize healthier lighting practices is highlighted as a key component in fostering public health.
"I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the majority of breast cancer cases today in the Westernized world are related to light exposure, seeing the wrong light at the wrong time, which is huge." - Dr. Martin Moor-Ede
In this episode of the Quantum Biology Collective podcast, host Meredith Oke interviews Dr. Martin Moor-Ede, a leading expert on circadian clocks and the health problems caused by artificial light at night. Dr. Moor-Ede, a former professor at Harvard Medical School, shares his journey into circadian medicine and the groundbreaking discoveries he made about the impact of light on our bodies.
Dr. Moor-Ede explains how exposure to blue-rich light at night disrupts our circadian rhythms, leading to a range of health issues including sleep disorders, fatigue, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. He emphasizes the importance of regulated circadian rhythms for overall health and highlights the need for greater awareness and education on this topic. He also discusses the challenges in the lighting industry and the urgent need for better lighting solutions that prioritize our health. This conversation sheds light on the practical strategies and feasible actions we can adopt to protect our circadian rhythms and improve our human health.
Quotes:
"The trouble is the people who know this stuff and know the science already, and maybe in the lighting industry, you know, all talk to each other. But the rest of the world is pretty unaware of some of this and it’s really important for everybody to understand." (01:53 | Dr. Martin Moor-Ede)
“And around 2007, the World Health Organization came out with this finding that was stunning. The conclusion was, looking at all the research, including the work I mentioned, it was pretty clear that that light at night was a carcinogen. And that it was related to exposure to light at night and it suppressed melatonin and it precipitated or accelerated cancer.” (15:36 | Dr. Martin Moor-Ede)
"Blue light during the day - you are sitting outside there with a beautiful daylight coming in. You're getting bathed in a lot of blue. That is critical to keeping the circadian clock synchronized today. As soon as it is dusk, you want to get rid of all the blue." (23:45 | Dr. Martin Moor-Ede)
"Blue light does a number of things. It interferes with our glucose metabolism. We developed something called insulin resistance. That was the body does not respond to insulin and hence insulin has to be pumped out more. And this is an effect you can get immediately the first night you expose to blue light." (29:03 | Dr. Martin Moor-Ede)
"I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the majority of breast cancer cases today in the Westernized world are related to light exposure and seeing the wrong light at the wrong time."(38:31 | Dr. Martin Moor-Ede)