Understanding Sleep Regulatory Processes to Improve Waking Performance 1 st :envihab Symposium Cologne, Germany May 23, 2011 Daniel Aeschbach Division of Sleep Medicine Brigham and Women s Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
Around-the-Clock Operations, Performance and Sleep ~15% of the work force in modern societies work rotating shifts or night shifts Relation between homeostatic and circadian process is altered during shift work Altered relationship Performance, Sleep Can sleep researchers offer countermeasures?
Daytime work: Sleep pressure opposed by circadian wake drive Adequate performance Work Sleep Sleep Pressure Circadian Wake Drive 4 12 20 4 12 20 4 Time of Day (h) * Sleep pressure: derived from Two-process model Circadian wake drive: % awake derived from forced desynchrony protocol
Night work: Sleep pressure + Circadian wake drive Poor performance Sleep Work Sleep Sleep Pressure Circadian Wake Drive 4 12 20 4 12 20 4 * Sleep pressure: derived from Two-process model Circadian wake drive: % awake derived from forced desynchrony protocol
Testing Two Experimental Countermeasures to Improve Performance during Simulated Night Work Protocol Clock Time (h) Evening sleep + phase advancing light (N=17) Morning sleep + phase delaying light (N=17) Santhi et al., J Biol Rhythms, 2008
Light induced phase advance in the Evening sleep group Light induced phase delay in the Morning sleep group Santhi et al., J Biol Rhythms, 2008
Evening Sleep with Phase Advancing Light is Effective Countermeasure for Attentional Impairment during Night Work Attentional Impairment (number of long response times in PVT) Santhi et al., J Biol Rhythms, 2008
Relationship between Homeostatic Sleep Pressure, Circadian Wake Drive, and Secretion Corresponding Time of Day (h) 4 12 20 4 12 20 4 Circadian Wake Drive (% awake) Nighttime Daytime Sleep Sleep pressure Plasma (z-scores) 0 120 240 0 120 240 Circadian Phase (Degrees) 0 Adapted from Dijk et al, J Physiol 1997
Nighttime Sleep (Entrained) Consolidated Sleep Sleep Pressure Circadian Wake Drive Daytime Sleep Premature Awakenings Exogenous? Sleep Pressure Circadian Wake Drive
Plasma Profile after Oral Administration Plasma (pmol/l) Fast rise Short half-life High dose needed Wyatt et al, Sleep 2006
Protocol to Test Efficacy of Skin Patch to Deliver during Daytime sleep 200 Plasma (pg/ml) Plasma (pg/ml) 150 100 50 Patch Placebo 0 12 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 Time of Day (h) (N=9) Aeschbach et al, Clin Pharmacol Ther 2009
Transdermal Delivery (2.1 mg) is Effective in Increasing Plasma Levels for Extended Time 200 Plasma (pg/ml) Plasma (pg/ml) 150 100 50 Patch Placebo 0 12 (N=9) Randomized, Crossover Double-blind 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 Time of Day (h) Aeschbach et al, Clin Pharmacol Ther 2009
Transdermal Improves Sleep Maintenance by Increasing Sleep Efficiency in the Latter Part of a Daytime Sleep Opportunity Plasma (pmol/l) 600 400 200 Placebo Sleep Efficiency (%) 0 100 75 50 25 0 12 Time of day (h) Patch 16 20 24 4 8 12 16 20 Aeschbach et al, Clin Pharmacol Ther 2009
Conclusions Scheduling sleep in the evening together with phase advancing light exposure can lower homeostatic sleep pressure induce circadian realignment reduce attentional impairment at nighttime Transdermal melatonin delivery can improve sleep maintenance during daytime holds promise as a sleep aid for night workers
Acknowledgments Nayantara Santhi, PhD Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD Brandon J. Lockyer, RPSGT Todd S. Horowitz, PhD Steven W. Lockley, PhD Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD Eli S. Nuwayser, PhD Larry D Nichols, PhD Grants: NHLBI (R01 HL52992, R01-HL077399) NINDS (R44-NS43129)
Effect of on NREMS EEG Spectra: Delta/Theta Activity Activity in Spindle Frequency Range 120 Last 6 h of Time in Bed EEG Power Density in NREMS as (% of % first of first 2 hours 2 hof TIB) 100 80 Placebo 60 as % of Placebo EEG Power Density in NREMS ( as % of Placebo) 110 100 90 0 5 10 15 20 25 Placebo Frequency (Hz) 80 70 0 5 10 15 20 25 Frequency (Hz)
No Adverse Effect of Increased Plasma Following Transdermal Delivery during Daytime Subjective sleepiness 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Patch Placebo Median reaction time (msec) 400 350 300 250 200 Lapses of attention (transformed) 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Sleep 5 6 7 8 9 17 18 19 20 21 22 Time of day (h)
Evening Sleep with Phase Advancing Light is Effective Countermeasure For Attentional Impairment during Night Shift Attentional Impairment (number of long response times in PVT) Subjective sleepiness (KSS) Santhi, J Biol Rhythms, 2008
Evening Sleep with Phase Advancing Light is Effective Countermeasure for Attentional Impairment during Night Shift Attentional Impairment (number of long response times in PVT) Santhi, J Biol Rhythms, 2008
Effect of Dermal on Last Third of Daytime Sleep (i.e. when plasma melatonin is highest) REMS Stage 2 40 * 80 * Minutes 20 40 0 Placebo 0 Placebo * p<0.05