Short-term dim light at night disrupts daily rhythms and leads to brain cell damage in fly models of Alzheimer's disease

Drosophila flies exposed to 10 lux dim light at night exhibited disrupted circadian rhythms and increased neurodegeneration.

• Accumulation of phosphorylated tau proteins is linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
• Patients with Alzheimer's disease show altered sleep-wake cycles and locomotion issues.
• Flies with overexpressed human tau protein replicate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, including neurodegeneration.
• Exposure to dim light at night for 3 days led to increased levels of phosphorylated tau proteins in the flies.
• Disrupted circadian rhythms and altered sleep-wake behavior were observed following nighttime light exposure.

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