Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder
Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder (non-24 or N24SWD) is one of several chronic circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSDs). It is defined as a "chronic steady pattern comprising [...] daily delays in sleep onset and wake times in an individual living in a society". Symptoms result when the non-entrained (free-running) endogenous circadian rhythm drifts out of alignment with the light–dark cycle in nature. Although this sleep disorder is more common in blind people, affecting up to 70% of the totally blind, it can also affect sighted people. Non-24 may also be comorbid with bipolar disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has provided CRSD guidelines since 2007 with the latest update released in 2015.
| Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hypernychthemeral syndrome, free-running disorder |
| Specialty | Neurology |
| Symptoms | Progressively shifting nighttime |
| Complications | None if sleeping according to biological clock, sleep deprivation otherwise |
| Duration | Lifetime |
| Causes | Blindness for the blind, unknown cause for the sighted |
| Diagnostic method | Sleep diary, actigraphy |
| Treatment | Medication |
| Medication | Tasimelteon, melatonin |
| Frequency | 50–70% of totally (without light perception) blind people, less prevalent in sighted |