Sleep · Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances

Black DS, O’Reilly GA, Olmstead R, et al. · JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015

Sleep problems are common in older adults and often go untreated. In this randomized clinical trial, 49 adults with an average age of 66 and moderate sleep disturbance were assigned to six weeks of a mindful awareness practices program (two hours a week plus homework) or to a structured sleep hygiene education course of the same length. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The mindfulness group improved more than the sleep hygiene group, with a large effect size, and also showed greater improvements in insomnia symptoms, depression symptoms and fatigue. There were no differences between groups for anxiety, stress or an inflammation marker. The main limitation is that the trial was small and measured outcomes immediately after the program, so it cannot say how long the improvement lasts.

Our summaries describe what each study found. They are not medical advice, and the practices at Halcyon are not a treatment for any condition.