CBT-I therapy shows benefits for insomnia and biological aging

Recent clinical studies indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) provides significant health benefits across different demographics.

A randomized controlled trial conducted in Australia involving 219 women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer found that CBT-I significantly improved insomnia symptoms compared to those who did not receive the therapy. While the treatment was effective for sleep, it did not show a significant impact on fatigue levels. Bright light therapy was also tested but did not yield significant improvements for either insomnia or fatigue.

In a separate study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, UCLA Health researchers found that CBT-I may influence biological aging in older adults. The trial, involving nearly 100 participants, suggested that older adults undergoing CBT-I were more likely to achieve insomnia remission and exhibited a slower pace of biological aging, as measured by the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock. Researchers noted that these findings suggest insomnia may be a modifiable risk factor for aging, similar to diet and physical activity.