Study finds melatonin impairs morning cognition in healthy young adults
A 2023 sleep study suggests melatonin may harm next-day mental performance, though debate erupts over methodology and generalizability.
Conversation activity · last 2 days peak 4/hr
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 14 items across 2 sources · 20h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
A 2023 study presented at a sleep conference found that melatonin impaired morning cognition in healthy young adults, but conflicting headlines also reported findings on melatonin's effects on children's sleep architecture. Hacker News discussion revealed substantial methodological concerns: the study tested only a narrow cohort (healthy young adults without sleep problems), used relatively high doses (2-5mg), and the findings may not generalize to people actually suffering from insomnia or other populations.
- A 2023 study found melatonin impaired morning cognition in healthy young adults, but relied on high doses (2-5mg) and a population without sleep disorders.
- The study's abstract stated no significant differences were found in sleep measures, creating confusion about what the research actually demonstrated.
- Critics argued the study design was flawed because healthy young adults lack the insomnia that melatonin supplements are designed to treat.
- Commenters highlighted a gap between the study's specific claims about one cohort and broad public interpretation that melatonin universally harms morning cognition.
How it unfolded
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Analysis Discussion of media misrepresentation
A commenter noted the gap between the study's specific claims about healthy young adults and the broad public interpretation that melatonin universally impairs cognition.
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Reaction Debate over study population relevance
Commenters questioned why the study used healthy young adults without sleep problems when melatonin is designed for those with insomnia.
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Reaction Commenters critique study methodology
Readers questioned the lack of dosage details and noted the abstract stated 'We found no significant differences between the melatonin and sleep groups on any of our sleep measures.'
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Report Hacker News surfaces the 2023 study
The study abstract was shared on Hacker News, reaching 164 points and sparking 195 comments of technical discussion.
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Report Multiple outlets cover melatonin research
Several news sources published articles on melatonin's effects, with headlines ranging from concerns about cognition and memory in children to findings about REM sleep and sleep architecture.
- 188 weeks quiet
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Event Study conducted on melatonin and cognition
A study tested melatonin's effects on morning cognition in healthy young adults, finding impairment compared to control groups.
What people are saying verbatim
“Hard to discuss this with only a short abstract. They don't even give a dose or formulation of the melatonin, and details like "We found no significant differences between the melatonin and sleep groups on any of our sleep measures." raise more questions than they answer.”
gwern, Hacker News commenter · Hacker News · Aug 9, 12:45 AM
“study: we tested specifically healthy young adults and found melatonin may have a negative effect on this cohort. We make zero claims about any other cohort.”
esperent, Hacker News commenter · Hacker News · Aug 9, 4:18 AM
“Next, the same experiment could be done with individuals who would be more likely to use melatonin supplements, or even just a broader group than "healthy young adults". I feel that the starting point of the experiment is a bit flawed since there's a high chance these healthy young adults don't have the problem the supplements are designed for.”
s-ww, Hacker News commenter · Hacker News · Aug 9, 2:06 AM
“While these are common dosages available in the US, these are higher dosages than recommended by at least some sleep experts. The thesis doesn't seem to differentiate between the dosages when evaluating cognitive processes.”
mutagen, Hacker News commenter · Hacker News · Aug 9, 12:53 AM
“My understanding is that you ought to take melatonin in small doses (0.3 or so) an hour or two before sleep in order to get tired, whereupon you sleep (normally, ish, unless you take too much and then you get crazy dreams or sleep paralysis).”
ajkjk, Hacker News commenter · Hacker News · Aug 9, 1:30 AM
Voices from the web unedited
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Next, the same experiment could be done with individuals who would be more likely to use melatonin supplements, or even just a broader group than "healthy young adults". I feel that the starting point of the experiment is a bit flawed since there's a high chance these healthy young adults don't have the problem the supplements are designed for…
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Like almost every psychoactive drug it really depends on the individual. I have ME/CFS from a strong genetic propensity to dysautonomia. I think that my ME/CFS is an autoimmune reaction to the dysautonomia where, counter intuitively, medications like melatonin and amitriptyline, by helping with dysautonomia, actually substantially increase energy…
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This thesis appears to be related or the underlying research:https://d.lib.msu.edu/etd/51312Indicates 2mg and 5mg were given along with the placebo. While these are common dosages available in the US, these are higher dosages than recommended by at least some sleep experts. The thesis doesn't seem to differentiate between the dosages when…
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As with so many experiments, the study itself is clear and testing something valid, but when it gets shared somewhere like reddit/HN/Facebook etc. everyone takes the broadest possible, unintended reading.- study: we tested specifically healthy young adults and found melatonin may have a negative effect on this cohort. We make zero claims about any…
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Tangentially: as a 'young adult' I was a typical 'night owl'. Cognitivly I peaked between 10pm and 3am, typically slept from 4am to 11am. When I got kids and a more 'regular' job, I was forced to change to a more normal schedule. The transition from 'owl' to 'lark' was not easy. It took about 7 years. These days, I peak 7am to 1pm.
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My understanding is that you ought to take melatonin in small doses (0.3 or so) an hour or two before sleep in order to get tired, whereupon you sleep (normally, ish, unless you take too much and then you get crazy dreams or sleep paralysis). If I take it and go right to bed I always wake up still in the 'window' of its effect.
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Hard to discuss this with only a short abstract. They don't even give a dose or formulation of the melatonin, and details like "We found no significant differences between the melatonin and sleep groups on any of our sleep measures." raise more questions than they answer.
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Not sleeping impairs my morning cognition - a lot. Melatonin is part of the rotating stacks I use to mitigate insomnia.My mornings have always been impaired, going back to pre-school. Meds don't make my mornings any worse than my baseline.
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Even 200 mcg is enough to give me brain fog. I stick with 100 mcg unless I'm really having a hard time falling asleep.