Are you one of those people who finds it especially difficult to get out of bed each morning when the alarm clock rings ? Sleep medicine experts from the University of Flinders (Australia) have investigated the role of the biological clock in the tendency of night owls to go to bed late and in the difficulty of getting up for work. The first findings indicate that when we suffer from the so-called delayed sleep phase syndrome , it is because our circadian rhythm works slower than usual and allows us to stay awake and active for longer.
"People who suffer from this disorder cannot fall asleep before 2 or 3 in the morning, in some cases they even have to wait until 4", explains Leon Lack, head of the research. According to Lack, around 10-15% of adolescents and young adults suffer from this problem.
The argument that at the moment most convinces them to explain this disorder is that the biological clock of these individuals lasts more than 24 hours , so that it does not coincide with the “natural rhythm”. If confirmed, treatment should be enhanced by bright light therapy very early in the morning to induce alertness in the morning and melatonin to induce drowsiness in the evening.
