Research early risers show a lower risk of depression

Our sleep type influences the risk of depression?

Depression is becoming increasingly common in today's world. Researchers have now found that women can reduce their risk of developing depression by getting up early in the morning.

• Researchers examined the so-called sleep-wake preferences and depression rates of 32,000 female nurses.
• Early risers had a 12 to 27 percent lower risk of depression.
• Night people were less often married, generally living alone more often and more likely to have irregular sleep patterns.
• The same genetic pathways that affect the sleep type can also affect our mood.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and Brigham and Women's Hospital found in their recent research that early-morning women are at a reduced risk of developing depression. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Journal of Psychiatric Research".

Early risers reduce their risk of depression

If you are one of those women who get up early every morning, it reduces their risk of depression. This could be due to the fact that so-called early birds are exposed to daylight for longer, the authors assume.

Data from 32,000 women were evaluated

For their study, the physicians analyzed the data of more than 32,000 nurses. The experts found that our sleep habits influence the risk of developing depression. These sleep habits are determined in part by our genetics. Even after considering environmental factors such as exposure to light and work schedules, which also affect sleep behavior, the result remained. "The findings may be related to the overlap of genetic pathways associated with sleep type and mood," study author Celine Vetter, of the University of Colorado Boulder, said in a press release.

Night people have a greatly increased risk of depression

Previous studies have shown that so-called night owls suffer from depression up to twice as often. However, as these studies often used data from a single time point and did not take into account many other factors that also affect the risk of depression, it was difficult to determine whether depression kept people awake longer or whether our type of sleep increased the risk of depression, explain the physicians.

Participants were asked about their sleep behavior

To clarify the question, the researchers used data from women with a mean age of 55 years. In 2009, all subjects were still free of depression, explain the scientists. These women were asked about their sleep behavior. 37 percent of the participating women described themselves as early risers, 53 percent described themselves as intermediate types and ten percent of the participants were so-called nocturnal people.

Subjects were medically monitored for four years

The women were medically monitored for four years to determine which participants develop depression. Various risk factors for depression, such as body weight, physical activity, chronic illness, sleep duration or night shift work have also been evaluated, the researchers explain.

The risk of depression was reduced by up to 27 percent among early risers

The researchers found that late sleep types or night owls are less likely to be married, more likely to live alone, and more likely to be smokers. In addition, such people have unpredictable sleep patterns, explain the doctors. Taking these factors into account, they found that early risers still had a 12 to 27 percent lower risk of depression than intermediate types studied. Night owls had a six percent higher risk than the examined intermediate types, although this finding was not statistically significant, explain the physicians.

Sleep type is strongly influenced by genetics

The results show that our sleep type has an effect on the risk of depression, which is not due to environmental and lifestyle factors, says Vetter. The tendency to be an early riser or a night man was 12 to 42 percent genetically determined. Some studies have already shown that certain genes (including PER2 and RORA) affect when we sleep better and when we are awake, and at the same time also affect the risk of depression.

What is influenced by our sleep type??

When and how much light the human body receives is influenced by the sleep type. In addition, exposure to light also reduces the risk of depression, adds Vetter. Although the study indicates that the sleep type is an independent risk factor for depression, this is only a small effect. This does not mean that night people are automatically condemned to develop depression, the expert adds.

Hints for night people

Night people should try to get enough sleep and exercise and spend more time outdoors. In addition, sufferers should insulate the light at night and try to get as much light a day as possible, the scientists advise. (As)