Joan is a tenured professor of Chemistry at Fordham University. She received her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from St. John’s University and her undergraduate degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Marymount Manhattan College. Joan has been featured on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings for her research on melatonin/circadian immune responses. In addition to over 60 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, Joan’s work has been published in several prominent “lay journals” including New Scientist, Eye World, Mens Health and on several medical websites, such as ABC News.com, Reuters and BBC News.com. She has been a guest speaker at numerous national and international conferences.

Circadian Rhythm and Human Health

Circadian Rhythm is a term used to define the chemical and biological oscillations that occur daily in most species including humans. These circadian responses are primarily triggered by visible light impinging on the retina, which is then directed to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus. This leads to a cascade of hormonal changes in the pituitary, pineal, adrenal and thyroid glands. The lack of light, total darkness, blocks some of these hormonal events while enhancing its own cascade of neuroendocrine changes. This daily oscillation of darkness and light has a profound effect on most physiological functions in the body. When the circadian hormone response is disrupted through environmental light changes, particularly light in the evening, severe damaging emotional and physical effects associated with seasonal depression (SAD), jet lag, and shift work occur. External control of the dark/light cycle and/or the administration of melatonin have led to effective treatments of these disorders.

The immune response also fluctuates in a rhythmic pattern during the day and evening. B (antibody producing) cells are most active in the morning so that hay fever or asthma may be more severe on awakening. On the other hand, T cells and NK (natural killer) cells that attack tumors, are more active in the evening. Lissoni and Maestroni have found that cancer treatments that consider this immune-circadian rhythm are much more effective than when randomly administered. Chronotherapy is being considered as an adjunct to treatment of other disorders. It has become evident that all living things need a certain period of darkness and then quality daylight in order to function properly. Understanding and control of circadian rhythm is a very powerful tool in modifying human health.

Therapeutic Effects of Light in Humans (pdf) - Joan E. Roberts, Ph.D.

SPEAKERS

Bidwell, Tony
Buchanan, Bryant
Crawford, Dr. David L.
Dick, Robert Stephen
Dickinson, Terence
French, Randy P.
Hill, Tom
Hills, Reverend Johanne
Hollan, Jenik
Hummel, Monte
Lickers, F. Henry
Lockley, Steven W.
Mesure, Michael
Moore, Chad A.
Reid, Ron
Riley, John L.
Roberts, Dr. Joan
Rutenberg, Tony
Shaver, Dorothy
Welch, David
Whitehead, Brian
Wise, Sharon