Artificial light after dark doesn’t just mess with your sleep. It sends your brain the wrong signal at the wrong time—disrupting your body’s natural circadian rhythm, the internal clock that governs everything from immune function to mood regulation.
And if that rhythm gets thrown off track?
You could be looking at problems far beyond grogginess. Dr. Nelson’s research shows that nighttime light exposure can spike brain inflammation, interfere with hormone production, and mess with your metabolism.
Over time, that could mean a higher risk for depression, diabetes, heart disease, and cognitive decline.
This is especially concerning for the 15 percent of Americans who work overnight shifts. Nurses, security guards, factory workers, and other night owls often face constant exposure to bright hospital lights or glowing computer screens during hours their bodies were wired for sleep.
And yes—this includes your children and grandchildren. Teenagers glued to their phones at night? Adults working late under fluorescent lights? Their brains are affected, too.
Nelson’s team is already testing practical solutions, like special blue light visors for night shift nurses and blackout lighting in hospital ICUs. But the takeaway is simple:
Artificial light at the wrong time rewires your brain.
Even dim light during normal sleep hours can throw off melatonin production and disrupt glucose processing. That might explain why shift workers are more prone to weight gain, diabetes, and mood disorders.
Fortunately, you don’t need to wait for fancy hospital tech to protect yourself.
Here are a few simple, research-backed steps you can take at home: - Use amber or red night lights instead of bright white or blue ones
- Avoid screen time for at least 1 hour before bed
- Invest in blackout curtains
- Keep a regular sleep schedule that respects natural light/dark cycles
And if you want a full plan that ties it all together...
Longtime HSI contributor, Dr. Richard Gerhauser, has a Circadian Reset Protocol which lays out everything you need to restore your body’s internal clock and optimize your health.
This protocol isn’t about pills or potions. It’s based on simple changes that reset your rhythm and help reverse the underlying causes of chronic disease. It’s the exact system Dr. Gerhauser uses in his own life—and with patients—to improve sleep, balance hormones, and even press "pause" on aging.
To bringing your brain back into rhythm—one light switch at a time,
Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team
P.S. Dr. Gerhauser has been warning about the dangers of artificial light for years. If you're concerned about your brain, your sleep, or your overall health, don’t miss your chance to explore his Circadian Reset Protocol. It might be the most natural way to restore what modern life has broken.
Sources:
StudyFinds Analysis. (2025, July 14). How Artificial Light After Dark Rewires The Brain. Study Finds. https://studyfinds.org/how-artificial-light-after-dark-rewires-brain/
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