The Decibel Why a sleep doctor says we should never change our clocks again
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Mar 8, 2026 Joseph De Koninck, psychology professor and sleep researcher at the University of Ottawa, studies circadian rhythms and daylight saving harms. He talks about how clock shifts desynchronize our biology and why spring’s one-hour loss is especially disruptive. He explains who is most vulnerable, the role of morning light in timing sleep, and practical tips to cope with the time change.
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Sleep Is Central To Body And Mind Health
- Sleep is the common denominator for physical and psychological adaptation.
- Joseph De Koninck explains poor sleep impairs frontal brain functions, judgment, immune recovery, and links to diseases including Alzheimer's.
Morning Light Synchronizes Our Biological Clock
- Human biological clocks evolved to use light cues, especially morning light, to time activity and physiology.
- De Koninck describes how retinal light signals synchronize body clocks and daily distributions of appetite, digestion, and activity.
DST Creates Both Acute And Chronic Sleep Harm
- Daylight saving shifts sunrise later and causes two harms: an abrupt one-hour sleep loss and chronic seasonal desynchronization.
- De Koninck notes average summer sleep drops ~30 minutes and vulnerable groups show higher health risks after the shift.