Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Slows Epigenetic Aging in Older Adults

In a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) significantly slowed epigenetic aging in older adults. Participants who received CBT-I showed reductions in biological age of approximately 0.8 years compared to control groups, as measured by multiple DNA methylation-based aging clocks. This is remarkable because it demonstrates that a non-pharmacological behavioral intervention can measurably affect biological aging markers. The effect persisted across several different epigenetic clocks, strengthening confidence in the finding. Given that poor sleep is both common in aging and linked to numerous age-related diseases, this suggests that improving sleep quality through evidence-based therapy could be a practical, accessible longevity intervention. CBT-I is already an established, safe treatment with no side effects beyond the time commitment. The study was conducted in humans, not animals, and used a rigorous randomized design, making it one of the stronger pieces of evidence we have that a lifestyle intervention can slow biological aging. The practical implication is clear: treating insomnia may be genuine preventive medicine for aging.