Cognitive behavioral therapy is recommended as a safe and effective treatment for insomnia, offering a non-medication approach that many older adults may benefit from.

The findings revealed that older adults who experienced both insomnia and regular use of sleep medications faced the highest risk of disability affecting their daily activities.

Specifically, for each incremental rise in insomnia symptoms, there was a 20% increase in the risk of disability, highlighting the serious implications of sleep disturbances.

Moreover, an increase in insomnia frequency was associated with an average disability score increase of 0.2 the following year, while increased sleep medication use led to a 0.19 increase.

The NHATS data assessed insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use on a five-point scale, ranging from 'never' to 'every night,' which provided a structured way to evaluate the severity of sleep issues.

Disability was quantified using a numeric scale based on self-reported capabilities in self-care and mobility, categorizing participants as 'fully able,' 'vulnerable,' or requiring 'assistance.'

A significant rise in disability levels was indicated by an increase of two or more points in the disability score, emphasizing the need for effective management of insomnia.

Importantly, insomnia is not an inevitable part of aging and requires attention and management to improve quality of life for older adults.

Older adults experiencing insomnia are encouraged to consult their physicians to review their medications and explore safer management options, especially in areas lacking sleep clinics.

Discussing sleep issues with healthcare providers can help older adults avoid medication-related complications and find more effective treatments.

The NHATS provided valuable data on self-care and mobility activities, which were crucial for understanding the relationship between sleep disturbances and disability.

A recent study analyzed data from 6,722 older adults collected between 2011 and 2015 as part of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), focusing on the impact of insomnia and sleep medication on disability.