Dim light sensitivity and delayed sleep timing in young people with emerging mental disorders

Abstract Background Light plays a critical role in mental health, as the primary input to the circadian system, which regulates mood, energy, and the sleep-wake cycle. Altered light sensitivity is a potential mechanism in circadian-associated mental disorders. Methods Actigraphy-derived sleep, physical activity, and circadian rhythm correlates of the pupillary light reflex were explored in young people with emerging mental disorders. Participants were 27 healthy controls (Mean age=25.67 ± 2.83, 52% female) and 155 young people from the Neurobiology Youth Follow-up Study (Mean age=25.48 ± 5.65; 60% female), recruited from an early intervention mental health service. 32% of the latter group were re-assessed over 12 months. Pupil constriction, average and maximal constriction velocity, and constriction latency were recorded by the PLR-3000 monocular pupillometer in response to dim (~10 lux) and bright (~1500 lux) pulses. Results Compared to healthy controls, young people with emerging mental disorders had a smaller change in pupil diameter ( p =0.037) and a slower maximal constriction velocity ( p =0.018) in response to dim light. In the full sample, decreased dim light sensitivity was correlated with later timing of actigraphy-derived sleep midpoint. Within the clinical cases, increased genetic risk for bipolar disorder was correlated with increased dim light sensitivity, and higher insomnia clinical scores were correlated with decreased dim light sensitivity. Pupillometry measures were stable across time and seasons. Conclusion Altered light sensitivity may be associated with the emergence of mood disorder in young people and with altered sleep-wake timing.