ROCKVILLE, Md., July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For most people, the
clock changes just twice a year for Daylight Saving Time. But for
someone with Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (N24HWD, or Non-24),
their internal body clock changes every day.
In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that approximately 65,000 –
95,000 people suffer from Non-24, a sleep disorder in which a
person's sleep period can advance by about 15 minutes each night.
Patients suffering from Non-24 experience severe insomnia and
excessive daytime sleepiness, which often interferes with social,
family and work obligations. Non-24 is most common in the totally
blind who lack light perception and affects more than 50 percent of
this population. Sighted people can experience similar sleep
or circadian rhythm disorders as well, in the form of jet lag or
from night shift work.
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VNDA) launched
24sleepwake.com today to promote awareness and support for those
who may suffer from Non-24. Utilizing the website, people can
access helpful information and research articles, listen to
interviews conducted with medical experts, and learn about clinical
trials.
"'Non-24' is a serious health condition and, because many
doctors themselves are unaware of the disorder, people can go
undiagnosed for years. Though there's still no cure, it's important
to have a place for people to go and learn about this condition,
know that they're not alone, and then talk to their doctor about
their options," said Melanie
Brunson, Executive Director of the American Council of the
Blind.
For more information, please visit www.24sleepwake.com.
About Circadian Rhythm
Circadian Rhythm is the daily activity cycle that drives the
rhythms of our body- from digestion to hormone secretions to our
ability to sleep.
The timing of human sleep is governed by the length of time
since a person last slept and by their internal body clock.
The body clock or circadian clock controls the timing of
human sleep with a rhythm that is regulated by a region of the
brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN, located in
the hypothalamus, sends signals to help us stay awake and
counteract the effects of fatigue. These signals peak in the
evening, when the drive for sleep is high, and then diminish when
bedtime approaches.
In most people, the sleep/wake circadian rhythm is maintained on
a 24-hour day cycle and determined by the light exposure they get
in the morning or evening. When a person's body clock is
mismatched with their sleeping and waking schedule, it may create a
circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
About the American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a national
organization of blind, visually impaired and sighted individuals
whose purpose is to work toward independence, security, equality of
opportunity, and improved quality of life for all blind and
visually impaired people. ACB programs and services include "The
Braille Forum", a free monthly publication available in Braille,
large print, on cassette and computer disk, and by e-mail
subscription and at www.acb.org; numerous scholarship awards; and
active participation in the national legislative and advocacy
scene. ACB is also a valuable resource for information on programs
and services in the blindness field and laws affecting blind
persons.
About Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company
focused on the development and commercialization of clinical-stage
products for central nervous system disorders. For more on Vanda,
please visit http://www.vandapharma.com/.
SOURCE Vanda Pharmaceuticals