July 2, 2025 • 7 mins
Story at-a-glance
- Chronic insomnia and frequent use of sleeping pills significantly increase the risk of disability in older adults, especially in daily activities like dressing, walking, and bathing
- Researchers tracked over 6,700 adults aged 65 and older for five years and found a clear link between poor sleep and loss of independence over time
- For every increase in insomnia frequency, disability scores rose by 0.2 points the following year; regular use of sleeping pills raised scores by 0.19 points
- When insomnia and sleep medication use were combined, the risk of becoming disabled was even higher, making nightly sedative use especially dangerous for older individuals
- The study recommends safer solutions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), lifestyle changes, and natural remedies that support real, restorative sleep without harmful side effects
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