Can Insomnia Therapy Slow Biological Aging? UCLA Study Offers New Hope

A recent study from UCLA Health published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity reveals that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) does more than improve sleep quality—it is also associated with a slower rate of biological aging in older adults. The findings open a new discussion about the role of sleep in the cellular aging process.

The study involved nearly 100 participants aged 60 and older who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder. They were recruited from Los Angeles, United States, and randomly divided into two groups: one received CBT-I for eight weeks, while the control group received only general sleep education. As a result, the CBT-I group was nearly three times more likely to experience insomnia remission than the control group.

Interestingly, the researchers also analyzed blood samples before treatment and during two years of follow-up. Using three markers of biological aging—DunedinPACE, GrimAge, and PC-PhenoAge—they found that CBT-I was associated with a significant slowing of the rate of biological aging, especially on the DunedinPACE measure. The difference in aging rate between the two groups averaged -0.02, meaning that each year, CBT-I participants aged 2% more slowly.

The lead author, Judith Carroll, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA Health, emphasized that the most important message from this research is the importance of addressing insomnia, not only for better sleep but also to protect overall health. "We understand sleep as a time for the body to recover from daily activity and stress. During sleep, the parasympathetic nervous system is active, which suppresses the stress response," she said. She explained that sleep disturbances can trigger increased cellular activity such as inflammation and metabolism that contribute to tissue damage and cellular aging.

Nevertheless, Carroll cautioned that these findings do not mean CBT-I can reverse aging or make someone biologically younger. "The differences observed are in biomarker-based measures, not chronological age. This is difficult to translate practically for individuals, but in the long term it could be meaningful for health," she added. She likened DunedinPACE to a speedometer that measures the rate of aging, while other measures are like an odometer that shows the distance of aging traveled.

"CBT-I is a well-designed approach to treating insomnia and is highly effective for many people—it is the current gold standard of care," Carroll stressed.

The study has limitations, including a relatively small number of participants from only one location. In addition, changes in aging biomarkers do not automatically mean longevity or a reduced risk of certain diseases. The researchers emphasized the need for further research with larger and more diverse samples, and to test whether similar effects are also seen with other insomnia therapies, including medications.

For Indonesia, these findings are relevant given the fairly high prevalence of insomnia, especially among older adults. Riskesdas 2018 data show that about 10% of Indonesia's population experiences sleep disturbances, and this figure tends to increase with age. Access to CBT-I in the country remains limited, generally available only in major cities through clinical psychologists or private mental health services. If the benefits of CBT-I on biological aging prove consistent, this could be a strong argument for integrating the therapy into primary health care or the National Health Insurance program.

Going forward, the big question is whether sustained sleep improvement over many years can have a greater impact on the body's biological clock. Carroll and her team plan to study the long-term effects over 5–10 years to see whether biological aging truly slows significantly. Meanwhile, the public is urged not to underestimate sleep disturbances and to seek professional help if needed, because healthy sleep is not just a necessity but an investment in long-term health.