You must have heard many people saying that moon disrupts your sleep cycle, and mental health. But, is there really any truth in that? Neurologist Joanna Fong-Isariawongse, who specializes in sleep medicine and how sleep affects brain writes for Scient Alert that yes, the moon affects sleep, however, its impact on mental health could be "much less certain". The conventional belief is that moon bears an impact on people's mood and behavior, in fact, the term 'lunacy', comes from the word 'luna', which is Latin for Moon. How Does Moon Impact Your Sleep?There are studies, notes Joanna, that show that people sleep differently in the days that lead up to full moon. This is when the moon shines brightest. As per a 2013 study, titled 'Evidence that the Lunar Cycle Influences Human Sleep', notes that people sleep 20 minutes less, take longer to fall asleep and another 2014 study published in journal Sleep Medicine show that they even spend less time in deep, restorative sleep. Another 2021 study, published in the journal Neurophysiology, people across different cultures tend to go to bed later and sleep for shorter periods in the nights before a full moon. Why does this happen? The answer is in the light. The bright moon, says the neurologist, could delay the body's internal clock and reduce melatonin. Melatonin is the hormones that is responsible for signaling bedtime. This is why the brain stays more alert. Most people lose 15 to 30 minutes of sleep, notes Joanna, however, this is measurable. This change is noticed strongest in places without artificial light, for instance in rural areas or while camping. There are several research that also suggests that moon can impact differently to women. Joanna notes, that men seem to lose more sleep during the waxing period, while women experience less deep and restful sleep around the full moon. Is There A Link Of Moon And Mental Health?There are folklores that suggest that full moon could spark bipolar disorder, provoke seizures in people with epilepsy, or even trigger psychosis in those with schizophrenia. However, the logic is simple, notes Joanna. This is because people lose sleep under a bright moon and it makes their mind more vulnerable. Research too says that sleep loss itself is a powerful reason for mental health issues. A 3034 study published by the Sleep Research Society notes that just one rough night could increase anxiety and drag down one's mood. There are also evidence that show that ongoing sleep disruption could raise one's risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and flare-up conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. This means even if you lose just 15 to 30 minutes of sleep during a full moon, you could be at risk. However, notes Joanna, that when researchers look at the same theory at large groups of people, the evidence is weak. There are no reliable patterns found between the moon and hospital admissions, discharges, or lengths of stay. However, there are other studies that may suggest small effects. For instance, in India, psychiatric hospitals record more use of restraints, as noted in the 2021 study published in The Journal of Biological and Medical Rhythm Research, during full moons. This is based on the data collected between 2016 and 2017. Another study done in 2019, published in the same journal show that in China, there was a slight rise in schizophrenia admissions around the full moon. The study used hospital data from 2012 to 2017. Joanna asks an important question: "If the science is so inconclusive, why do so many people believe in the 'full moon effect?'" The answer is, the psychologists point to this as the illusory correlation, we may notice something unusual that coincides with a full moon, and forget that there may have been many full moon nights when nothing happened. Lastly, she writes, that moon is also highly visible, unlike the other sleep disruptors like stress, caffeine, or scrolling on phone, which is why it becomes easy to blame.
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