Hi Ron

This is a well recognized condition but I have never heard of it described
by that name.

The body relies on two hormones to regulate its day night pattern, Melatonin
and serotonin.  The former to trigger sleep.
Melatonin is released when light stimulation is lost, hence many totally
blind people have sleep disturbance.

A study, here in the UK, at the University of Surrey, some 20 or so years
ago showed that although totally blind people could regulate themselves to a
24 hour per day pattern, that their hormone levels defaulted to a range from
17 to 30+ hours - I can't actually recall the highest figure.
the hormone levels were determined by urine samples. The other objective
indicators were an activity detector and a skill test done on a Psion 2
(that tells you how long ago!).
the subjective side was assessed by the subject filling in a mood chart.

The sleep study at that university was started by Professor Josephine Arendt
in response to an approach from British Airways who wanted to find a way of
minimizing jet lag.
Her one-time main PhD student, Steven something, I now gather is at Harvard.

HTH

ATB

David W Wood 
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ron Canazzi
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 1:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Off Topic: Non 24 A Blind Disease?

Hi Group,

I belong to several blind oriented groups, but I don't think this post 
would apply to any of them.  This list seems to have very loose guide 
rules, so I figured it would find some tolerance and acceptance here.  
So here goes.

Recently, on Buffalo New York radio--principally the Entercom group of 
stations which comprise the lions share of local stations in my area, I 
have been hearing what sound like public service announcements in which 
an allegedly blind male (who sounds so stereotypically blind that he 
might be a figment of the imaginations of comedians Cheech and Chong) 
states that his lack of focus and concentration is caused by a malady 
called 'Non 24 disease.'

Supposedly, this disease results from totally blind people becoming 
disoriented due to their inability to perceive night and day--sunrise 
and sunset.  They refer the listener to several websites--which seem to 
change from commercial to commercial.  The latest manifestation is 
www.non24moreabout.com.  Previously, the addresses have included 
www.non-24.com, www.non24.com and I believe one other that I can't recall.

Needless to say, I am a bit skeptical.  I have never heard of such a 
malady and indeed I know many totally blind people who lead normal 
lives, work and experience no such disorientation, sleep disorder and 
lack of focus or concentration.  When I visit the page, I see a general 
description of the so-called malady as well as a push for the 
prescription of a group of anti convulsive drugs that are used by people 
experiencing moderate to severe epilepsy.

Has anyone outside the Buffalo New York area heard any of these 
commercials or has visited the websites and has anyone heard of such a 
malady and any preferred treatment?

I eagerly await any and all responses.

-- 

Signature:
They ask me if I'm Happy, I say "yes."
They ask me "How happy are you?"
I say: "I'm as happy as a stowaway chimpanzee on a banana boat!"