With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Trouble sleeping? UCLA researchers say meditation might help
Listen
• 0:47
A new study suggests that meditation may help older adults get over sleep problems.
()
A new study suggests that if you’re having trouble sleeping, meditation may be the way to go.
UCLA researchers, working with colleagues from USC, recruited 49 adults aged 55 and older who had moderate sleep problems.
Half of them enrolled in a six-week sleep education course that included lessons on sleep habits, relaxation methods and establishing bedtime routines.
The other half enrolled in a mindful meditation course. Mindful meditation trains people to be aware of their thoughts and emotions but avoid reacting to or becoming distracted by them -- a common problem that can keep people up at night.
Support for LAist comes from
The study found that those enrolled in the meditation course reported better quality sleep and fewer bouts of insomnia than those who got the sleep education classes. And according to the researchers, the improvements were on a par with those conferred by clinical sleep therapy or sleeping pills, though without the side effects.
Researchers say the results suggest that meditation could be a good alternative treatment for sleep problems, at least in the short term. They have yet to study whether the practice confers long-term sleep benefits.
The authors noted that previous research has shown that "a movement-based meditation, Tai Chi, can improve sleep quality in older adults," adding that, "to our knowledge," this is the first attempt to explore the use of a "non-movement form of meditation for sleep problems in older adults."
The research was conducted by scientists from UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, in collaboration with USC's Keck School of Medicine.
The study was published Monday in the online edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center offers free guided meditations online, as well as online courses.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare immigration enforcement actions a local emergency. -
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
Best of LAist