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Age-related differences in circadian timing system and sleep quality in young and older lifelong endurance runners
Age differences in body clock timing and sleep quality in young and older lifelong endurance runners
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Abstract
Improved sleep efficiency and less fragmented sleep were observed in older endurance runners compared to their untrained counterparts.
- Lifelong endurance running may mitigate age-related declines in circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality.
- Older runners showed better sleep quality than older untrained controls, while young runners had poorer sleep quality than young untrained controls.
- Urinary melatonin levels were higher in runners of both age groups, indicating that improved sleep may not be directly related to melatonin production.
- Runners exhibited a higher amplitude in their rest-activity rhythms compared to untrained individuals.
- Total daily activity levels were similar between older runners and older untrained individuals, but young runners were more active than young untrained individuals.
- Young runners displayed the least stable rest-activity rhythms, characterized by low consistency across days and high variability within days.
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