Health depends upon proper regulation of circadian rhythms of cell and organ functions. Disruption of circadian rhythms has detrimental consequences for brain function and resilience and abnormal circadian rhythms are a common feature of Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode neurology professor Erik Musiek talks about the roles of specific circadian clock proteins in neurons and glial cells in brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. His research is revealing the ways in which these circadian regulatory proteins affect brain cell functions and how disruption of circadian rhythms may contribute to the neuropathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. We also talk about ways in which we can bolster our circadian rhythms by sleep, exercise, diet, light exposure, etc.

LINKS

Professor Musiek’s webpage: https://physicians.wustl.edu/people/erik-musiek-md-phd/

Articles discussed in this podcast:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12352436/pdf/nihms-2097957.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11996435/pdf/nihpp-2025.03.31.645805v1.pdf

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00950-x

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9008766/pdf/nihms-1794994.pdf