Biography:
                                                                    
	Dhondup Namgyal Amity Institute of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience,Amity University, Noida, UP 201313.
                                                                    Abstract:
                                                                    
	The prevalence of major stress and depressive like disorders has increased in recent years yet the
	complete set of contributors remain unknown. The environmental and social changes have certainly
	played a significant role in these symptoms. Our physiology and mental processes are influenced by
	the environmental factors like temperature, light and dark cycles and other environmental factors in
	which we live. Many of our biological systems are under circadian control, including sleep-wake
	behavior, light-dark cycle, hormone secretion, cellular functions and gene expression.
	In the past, our ancestor experienced a predictable period of light and dark which allowed them to
	develop the intrinsic pattern of circadian rhythms in tune to the light and dark cycle. Ever since
	technology brought changes in our circadian rhythm, the exposure to artificial light has dramatically
	increased and along with that, disorders related to mental health has also increased. However, the
	knowledge about how this alteration in light-dark phase of circadian rhythm changes our brain
	anatomy level is poorly understood. Hence, in this study, we investigated the effect of chronic
	exposure to 5 lux dim light at night for one week in swiss albino mice and analysed the effect on
	their behavior. We have also investigated the brain derived neurotrophic factor expression level,
	hippocampal synapsin II protein level and the Double cortin protein expression levels. In addition
	we have also investigated the neuroprotective role of curcumin(30mg/kg and 50mg/kg) in mice
	stressed due to dim light exposure at night.
	From our study, it was found that even one week of exposure to dim light at night has dramatic
	effects on the expression levels of proteins such as BDNF, synapsin II and DCX. We have also
	found that the dim light at night had increased the oxidation levels and created certain changes in
	their behaviour in terms of reduced learning capacity, inhibited locomotor activity and memory
	retention with high stress levels. However, treatment of curcumin had effectively protected the
	neuro-inflammation caused by the dim light at night. These results indicate that artificial light
	exposure contributes to the rise of mood disorders and reveal curcumin to have an effective role in
	the reversibility of depressive like behavior observed under chronic dim light at night.