Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{206320,
        author = {Shaikh Almas Masroor Muhammad Hasham and Kazi Abusufeeyan Ikbal and Aasma Akhil Pathan and Prof Tarannum Sati and Sukeshani Pandit Ghanghave and Dr Mumthaz TMV},
        title = {ROLE OF THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK IN AGING: FROM MOLECULAR MECHANISMS TO HEALTHY LONGEVITY},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {2},
        pages = {1601-1611},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=206320},
        abstract = {As people age, their sleep patterns shift in all sorts of ways: bedtimes creep earlier, nights get shorter, and sleep quality can dip. These shifts happen because the body’s internal clock the circadian timing system works hand in hand with the system that builds up sleep pressure over the day. Together, they set when we sleep and how good that sleep is. The circadian system, mainly run by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (or SCN), takes cues from the environment, especially light. But as we get older, this system loses some of its sharpness and regularity. You’ll often see weaker circadian signals, body clocks that run ahead of schedule, and a blunted response to light. All of that messes with sleep, making insomnia, restless nights, and those too-early wake-up calls much more common for older folks. It doesn’t stop at bad sleep, either. When the circadian rhythm falls out of step, the risk of developing chronic problems like metabolic issues, heart disease, or neurodegenerative disorders jumps, adding more challenges as people age. This review takes a closer look at how our inner clocks work, how aging changes them, and what that means for sleep and overall health. The more we learn about these connections, the better our chances for new treatments that actually help people sleep better and stay healthier as they age.},
        keywords = {Circadian clock, Aging, Biological clock, Clock genes, BMAL1, CLOCK, PER, CRY, Cellular senescence, Oxidative stress, Mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA repair, Epigenetics, Inflammaging, Immune aging, Autophagy, Sleep–wake cycle, Chronotherapy, Healthy aging, Healthy longevity, Health span, Time-restricted feeding, Melatonin, Circadian rhythm, Age-related diseases.},
        month = {July},
        }