Circadian Disruption and Sleep Disorders in Astronauts: A Review of Multi-Disciplinary Interventions for Long-Duration Space Missions

Abstract

As humanity advances into deep space exploration, astronauts on long-duration missions face significant challenges posed by circadian rhythm disruptions and sleep disorders, which arise from extreme environmental stressors such as microgravity, ionizing radiation, and operational workload. These disruptions not only compromise physiological and psychological health but also impair cognitive function and mission-critical performance. In this review, we summarized established countermeasures encompassing pharmacological interventions, light-based circadian regulation, and work-rest schedule optimization alongside innovative approaches such as gut microbiota modulation and traditional Chinese medicine.

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