Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Slows Aging in Insomnia
A UCLA study found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in older adults not only improved sleep but also slowed the pace of biological aging, as
A new clinical trial has found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can slow biological aging in older adults. The study 2026, was conducted by UCLA Health researchers.
Lead author Dr. Judith Carroll, an associate professor of psychiatry at UCLA Health, said the findings reframe insomnia. "Insomnia in older adults is often treated as a quality-of-life issue, but these findings suggest it may also be a modifiable risk factor for how the body ages," Carroll stated. She compared targeting sleep to counseling on physical activity and diet for healthy aging.
Between 10% and 25% of U.S. Adults over 65 have clinical insomnia. Prior research has linked insomnia to advanced biological aging, measured by changes in DNA methylation. This accelerated aging is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mortality.
How the Treatments Compared
The randomized controlled trial involved nearly 100 older adults with insomnia. Participants were assigned to one of two eight-week treatments.
Researchers drew blood before treatment and at follow-ups over two years. They used three different epigenetic clocks-DunedinPACE, GrimAge, and PC-PhenoAge-to analyze DNA methylation and calculate biological aging.
Therapy Linked to Remission and Slower Aging
The analysis showed a clear benefit for the cognitive behavioral therapy group. Adults who underwent CBT-I were nearly three times more likely to achieve insomnia remission than those who received sleep education.
Also, the insomnia treatment significantly slowed the pace of aging. This effect was detected specifically by the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock. The other two clocks did not show a statistically significant change.
Study Limitations and Future Research
The authors noted several limitations. All participants were from a single site in Los Angeles. The researchers said a larger, multisite study with more diversity in age, ethnicity, and race is needed to confirm the results.
More research is also required to see if treatment response differs by sex. Scientists want to investigate whether other insomnia treatments, such as medication or Tai Chi, could produce similar effects on biological aging. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal and attributed to UCLA.
