Sleeping with light on could affect mental health

Scientists have warned that sleeping with the light on could affect your mood and mental health.

The odds of depression could be increased due to the light affecting the structure of the brain.

Mental health can be affected even by the glow emitted by a TV, the researchers at Ohio State University said.

Other studies have also warned of the dangers of disrupting the natural sleep-wake cycle of the body, such as one which linked nighttime light to weight gain.

The study at Ohio State University observed the effect of exposing rodents to dim light in the hours they would usually be asleep.

It discovered that those exposed to the light showed more symptoms of being depressed than those that had a standard light-dark cycle.

"The hippocampus plays a key role in depressive disorders, so finding changes there is significant. Even dim light at night is sufficient to provoke depressive behavior," researcher Tracy Bedrosian said.

Cornwall Seaway News recently shared some tips for better mental health and a good night's sleep. It suggested avoiding stimulating exercises at least three hours before going to bed.

source: craegmoor.co.uk