A new study published in Current Biology indicates that sleep disruption could be a contributing factor when it comes to the susceptibility to breast cancer in combination with genetic disposition, at least in mice.
The mice used in the study had an altered gene that would resemble that in women who genetically have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Naturally, the mice gained mammary tumors after about 50 weeks, but the timing was reduced by eight weeks in the mice who had disturbances with their circadian rhythm. Not only did the process of developing cancer increase, but so did the probability of gaining weight.
It’s not really about lack of sleep, though. It’s about how often we are exposed to natural versus artificial light.
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“The conclusion is that chronic changes in light schedules are a driving factor for breast cancer development, weight gain, and other metabolic problems,” said Bert van der Horst from the Erasmus University Medical Center and senior author of the study, according to EurekAlert!. “This outcome is in line with what has been found in epidemiological studies in humans, and now provides strong causal evidence for circadian disruption as a carcinogenic factor.”
This research further defends the idea that unusual sleep hours, especially with night workers or those who change their routine regularly, can have a negative effect on health in multiple ways.
“One of the questions we often get is to what extent does a mouse resemble humans,” said van der Horst. “The mechanism of the circadian clock as well as carcinogenesis is comparable in mice and man, and this model opens new avenues for further exploring how circadian disruptions affect the body and how you can intervene to reduce adverse effects.”
Photo: Flickr user Flood G.