Effects of light on aging and longevity

doi:10.1016/j.arr.2019.100913

Ageing Research Reviews

Volume 53, August 2019, 100913

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2019.100913 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Light is important in regulation of aging and longevity.
•
Visible light may control circadian rhythms, induce oxidative stress, or act through the retina.
•
Changes in artificial lighting may have significant impact on aging and health.
•
It will be important to explore the mechanisms of how light affects aging and health.

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests an important role for light in regulation of aging and longevity. UV radiation is a mutagen that can promote aging and decrease longevity. In contrast, NIR light has shown protective effects in animal disease models. In invertebrates, visible light can shorten or extend lifespan, depending on the intensity and wavelength composition. Visible light also impacts human health, including retina function, sleep, cancer and psychiatric disorders. Possible mechanisms of visible light include: controlling circadian rhythms, inducing oxidative stress, and acting through the retina to affect neuronal circuits and systems. Changes in artificial lighting (e.g., LEDs) may have implications for human health. It will be important to further explore the mechanisms of how light affects aging and longevity, and how light affects human health.

Section snippets

Effects of invisible light on aging and longevity

Light is an important environmental factor that affects living organisms, including regulation of circadian rhythms, metabolic rate and growth [Northrop, 1925; Tucker, Petitclerc et al. 1984; Sheeba, Sharma et al. 2000; Vinogradova, Anisimov et al. 2009]. The wavelength of visible light is between 380–720 nm. Invisible light is divided into two types: infrared light with wavelength greater than 720 nm; and ultraviolet (UV) light with wavelength less than 380 nm (Fig. 1).

Visible light and aging

Visible light from ambient lighting can be toxic and reduce longevity. A recent study showed that visible light can reduce longevity in C. elegans [De Magalhaes Filho, Henriquez et al. 2018]. The effect of light was photon energy dependent, and lifespan was inversely correlated to the time that the C. elegans were exposed [De Magalhaes Filho, Henriquez et al. 2018]. Consistent with the result in C. elegans, our recent study on Drosophila also showed that visible light could reduce longevity [

Mechanisms for adaptation to light in humans

Human adaptation to ambient light has two mechanisms: image forming (IF) for vision, and non-image forming (NIF). NIF functions are mediated by retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) expressing the photopigment melanopsin, and the action spectrum of melanopsin photopigment peaks around 480 nm blue light [Hatori, Gronfier et al. 2017]. Action spectrum shows which wavelength of light is most effectively used in a physiological reaction, by plotting the rate of the reaction versus input wavelength [Karu,

Circadian rhythm disturbance

Changes in circadian rhythms may explain the effect of light on aging. One mechanism of the light function is to act as a zeitgeber (time giver), to control the circadian rhythms, which are endogenous rhythms of about 24 h. With circadian rhythms, organisms can synchronize their physiology with the daily light-dark phase change of Earth’s rotation. Although light is a zeitgeber to circadian rhythms, in constant darkness (free running conditions), the rhythms still exist and can be reset by

Discussion and conclusions

Light exposure is an environmental factor that significantly impacts aging and longevity. Light intensity, spectral components, and duration of exposure, are all important factors to consider when conducting animal experiments. Light conditions should be carefully controlled to avoid potential conflicts between different studies.

There is no uniform measurement unit for intensity of light in research papers. Lux, photons, and Watts are all used in published research studies. The commonly used

Acknowledgements

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by grants to J.S. (National Natural Science Foundation of China, 31500970) and to J.T. (NIH/NIA AG057741).

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ReviewEffects of light on aging and longevity

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Effects of invisible light on aging and longevity

Visible light and aging

Mechanisms for adaptation to light in humans

Circadian rhythm disturbance

Discussion and conclusions

Acknowledgements

J. Affect. Disord.

Neuron

Biochim. Biophys. Acta

J. Biol. Chem.

Neurobiol. Aging

NPJ Aging Mech. Dis.

J. Biol. Chem.

FEBS Lett.

Pharmacol. Ther.

Sleep Med. Rev.

Cell Metab.

Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Affect. Disord.

Mech. Ageing Dev.

Neurobiol. Learn. Mem.

Parkinsonism Relat. Disord.

Brain Res.

Am. J. Prev. Med.

Compr. Psychiatry

Neurobiol. Aging

Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.

Ultraviolet radiation, aging and the skin: prevention of damage by topical cAMP manipulation

Molecules

Lux vs. wavelength in light treatment of seasonal affective disorder

Acta Psychiatr. Scand.

Lethal action of UV irradiation on insects

J. Econ. Entomol.

Near-infrared light increases ATP, extends lifespan and improves mobility in aged Drosophila melanogaster

Biol. Lett.

Treatment with 670 nm light up regulates cytochrome C oxidase expression and reduces inflammation in an age-related macular degeneration model

PLoS One

Protecting the melatonin rhythm through circadian healthy light exposure

Int. J. Mol. Sci.

Comparative analysis of nutritional guidelines for vitamin D

Nat. Rev. Endocrinol.

Effects of UV-A exposures on longevity and reproduction in Helicoverpa armigera, and on the development of its F1 generation

Insect Sci.

Incandescent lamps can produce pyrimidine dimers in DNA

Photochem. Photobiol.

Perspective: casting light on sleep deficiency

Nature

Skin photosensitizing agents and the role of reactive oxygen species in photoaging

J. Photochem. Photobiol. B

Visible light reduces C. Elegans longevity

Nat. Commun.

Melanoma and sun exposure: an overview of published studies

Int. J. Cancer

Review
Effects of light on aging and longevity