Bright Days, Dark Nights: How Light Controls Your Health | Dr. Sean Cain

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Sean Cain, PhD, a Harvard Medical School-trained expert in the impact of light on the human circadian system, a Matthew Flinders Professor at Flinders University, and Co-Founder and CEO of Circadian Health Innovations.  Today, he discusses how people differ more than fiftyfold in how sensitive their circadian systems are to evening light, that nearly half of modern homes are bright enough at night to suppress melatonin by fifty percent, and that most of us have no conscious awareness of any of it. We discuss the large observational studies he and his team have published linking bright days and dark nights to depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, as well as his research on impaired light sensitivity in depression and why the amplitude of your circadian rhythm may matter more than its timing. We also discuss MiEye, the wearable light sensor his team developed, and practical changes to home and daytime lighting that anyone can make tonight. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOWNOTES This includes all other resources Sponsor: Brighter Lamp https://getbrighter.com/?sjram=P2jrTbowzJOd Code: JONATHANJ    Subscribe to the newsletter: https://jonathanjarecki.substack.com/?utm\campaign=profile\chips Timestamps  00:00 Intro 03:54 Dr. Sean Cain 04:42 Dr. Cain's Love for Science and Research 10:25 Understanding Circadian Rhythms: Anatomy and Function 10:56 Setting the stage: Circadian Biology, Rhythms, SCN, ipRGCs 16:20 Light, Circadian Entrainment, Mechanisms 19:57 High Sensitivity and Interindividual Variability in the Response of the Circadian of the Human Circa 22:02 Individual Sensitivity to Light and Circadian Disruption 27:22 Home Lighting, Sunset, LEDs, Fluorescents, Incandescents 27:37 Home Lighting and Its Effects on Circadian Health 33:46 Tools: circadian friendly home lighting 39:24 Population health outcomes; UK BioBank 39:29 Psychiatric Disorders 47:52 SPONSOR: Brighter Lamp 49:34 The Link Between Light Exposure and Mental Health 01:04:18 Light Exposure and Longevity: Key Findings 01:09:45 The Importance of Daylight for Health 01:17:41 Understanding Circadian Rhythms and Light Exposure 01:17:52 The Impact of Light on Mood and Self-Perception 01:23:39 Innovations in Circadian Health: My Eye Device 01:34:15 Jet Lag Management and the Jet Lag App 01:39:09 Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Social Media, Substack Newsletter