Understanding your sleep ‘chronotype’

Scientists use different terminology to describe the distinct kinds of sleepers – chronotype. The word chronotype describes individual tendencies toward the timing of activity and rest each day. Early birds are also called larks, while night owls are still night owls. Each are shaped by biological and genetic forces, but also by lifestyle, mood, how you think and sleep.

Studies conducted by Aachen University in Germany used brain scans to determine who the larks and night owls were in a group of men and women. It found that night owls had less white matter, a type of fatty tissue in the brain, which raises their risk of depression and impairs cognitive function. It’s speculated that night owls experience a type of chronic jet lag because they like to stay up late and sleep later. This pattern may leave them sleep deprived, especially when their work or school lives don’t jive well with their preferred sleep times .

But is it better to be a night owl or a lark? Most of the research points favorably to the larks.

• People who go to bed late experience a higher risk of depression.
• They’re more likely to be habitual users of tobacco and alcohol.
• They’ll also eat more and make poorer diet choices than early risers.
• They tend to weigh more, have higher blood pressure, take more risks and unfortunately die sooner than their early rising counterparts.