Scientists Discover a Potential ‘Smart Drug’ to Offset Jet Lag

If you’ve flown the red eye from the West Coast to the East Coast, you know the feeling of jet lag and lethargy. A Japanese research team has discovered an oral compound, called Mic-628, that resets the body clock forward in mouse studies. Resetting the circadian clock can be very helpful for people who frequently travel for work or pleasure. This also has the potential to help people who work night shifts to also have a reset. People often use light exposure to adjust to the time difference, but this might be a promising new option.

This was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). More mouse and human studies will inform this research going forward.

What Does Jet Lag Do To Your Body?

Your body has its own sleep and wake times, called the circadian rhythm. Jet lag is when you get out of sync with your circadian rhythm due to travel or sleep disorders. You can have daytime sleepiness and have trouble staying alert. It can even cause mood and digestive issues, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What Can You Do to Offset Jet Lag

Before your trip, set your watch or phone to the new time and try not to sleep when you arrive at your destination. Pushing through can help you adjust quicker. Stay hydrated, too. If you’re running low on fluids, that can make jet lag worse. Caffeine and alcohol can also disrupt your sleep routine. Long-term jet lag can cause insomnia and difficulty concentrating.