Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Aug 6;26(4):156.
doi: 10.1007/s10522-025-10299-8.

The intricate link between circadian rhythms and aging: can resetting our circadian clock hold the key to longevity?

Najm Ul Hassan  1   2 , William Kojo Smith  1   2 , Hafiza Ayesha Nawaz  1   2 , Han Wang  3   4
Affiliations
Review

The intricate link between circadian rhythms and aging: can resetting our circadian clock hold the key to longevity?

Najm Ul Hassan et al. Biogerontology. .

Abstract

The desire to increase life expectancy, coupled with the decline in biological functions that occurs as we age, represents one of the most significant challenges facing our society. Age-related declines in biological functions contribute to frailty and morbidity, demanding innovative strategies to promote healthy aging. The circadian clock, which controls daily physiological processes, is intricately linked to aging and overall health. Circadian disruptions can lead to metabolic dysfunction, impaired immune responses, increased DNA damage, and elevated disease susceptibility. On the other hand, maintaining robust circadian rhythms through interventions such as regular sleep-wake patterns, time-restricted feeding, and physical activity may extend health span and longevity. The circadian clock affects various molecular pathways associated with aging, including the insulin/IGF, mTOR, and sirtuin signaling pathways. Enhancing circadian rhythms presents a promising avenue for mitigating age-related disorders and promoting healthy aging. This review highlights the potential of circadian clock-based interventions as a transformative strategy to improve the quality of life and extend the healthspan of aging individuals.

Keywords: Aging; Circadian clocks; Healthspan; Lifespan; Longevity; Suprachiasmatic nuclei.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Acosta-Rodríguez VA, Rijo-Ferreira F, Green CB, Takahashi JSJNc (2021a) Importance of circadian timing for aging and longevity. Nat Commun. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22922-6 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Acosta-Rodríguez VA, Rijo-Ferreira F, Green CB, Takahashi JS (2021b) Importance of circadian timing for aging and longevity. Nat Commun 12(1):2862. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22922-6 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Arble DM, Ramsey KM, Bass J, Turek FW (2010) Circadian disruption and metabolic disease: findings from animal models. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 24(5):785–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2010.08.003 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Asher G, Gatfield D, Stratmann M, Reinke H, Dibner C, Kreppel F, Mostoslavsky R, Alt FW, Schibler U (2008) SIRT1 regulates circadian clock gene expression through PER2 deacetylation. Cell 134(2):317–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.050 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barzilai N, Crandall JP, Kritchevsky SB, Espeland MA (2016) Metformin as a tool to target aging. Cell Metab 23(6):1060–1065 - PubMed - PMC

LinkOut - more resources