Geriatrician reveals the best type of exercise for overcoming insomnia in people over 60

A good night's sleep is essential for a person to function properly throughout the day. However, as people get older, they might face more trouble falling asleep and getting a good amount of sleep on a daily basis. 50% of older adults find it difficult to fall asleep and 75% experience symptoms of insomnia, as per the New York Post. Now, according to a new study, a certain type of exercise can prove to be very beneficial for older people who suffer from insomnia.

Insomnia can be quite a serious thing and affect a person's quality of life. It might also increase the risk of heart diseases, dementia, anxiety and depression in people. The condition could also increase a person's chances of falling down, as per the outlet. To find a solution to this, the study conducted by the journal, Family Medicine and Community Health, analyzed data from previous studies, including 2,000 older adults aged 60 or older. They studied the impact of exercises like brisk walking, swimming, yoga, balance exercises, stretching exercises like gymnastics and strength training exercises like lifting weights. Aerobic exercises were "effective in improving sleep quality to a clinically significant level," but strength training had the best results in improving sleep quality and alleviating symptoms of insomnia.

Scott Kaiser, Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, pointed out how the study highlights the concerning issue in an interview with Medical News Today. "For the first time in human history, we have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18." He added, "And when you consider all of the profound effects of insomnia and poor sleep quality on the overall health and well-being of older adults and the connection with increased risks of dementia and other chronic diseases, this is just really critical." Kaiser also remarked how the insomnia in older people is "more significant" than younger people and hence it needs to be studied to ensure that it doesn't have a negative effect on people on a large scale.

"If we don’t invest in this type of research now, it would be easy to say, 'Oh, well, who cares?' or to be dismissive," Kaiser expressed. "But if we don’t increase our investment in this type of research now, there will be significant social, health and economic repercussions for decades to come." He went on, "The management of other chronic conditions, and just healthy aging overall, [is impacted by sleep]. Two things that are really critical for healthy aging [are] good quality sleep and maintaining regular physical activity. Excellent to see that the research ties these things together as two things that can go hand-in-hand to really benefit us immediately and over the long haul."

"Finding new ways to treat insomnia in older adults is crucial for a multitude of reasons, impacting both individual well-being and broader societal health because insomnia can significantly diminish quality of life, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating and reduced enjoyment of activities," Nadeem Ali, MD, an interventional pulmonology specialist with Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey told the outlet. Ali also suggested that even though strength training can be crucial for treating insomnia, it should be only used as one part of the things used to cure the problem.