Newswise — New research led by UCLA Health confirms that both Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce insomnia in breast cancer survivors but also may provide additional health benefits by reducing inflammation and bolstering anti-viral defenses. Chronic insomnia is one of the most prominent symptoms experienced among cancer survivors and poses significant health concerns, including the risk of inflammatory disease that could increase the risk of cancer recurrence. About 30% of breast cancer survivors are reported to have insomnia, which is twice the rate of the general population.
While previous research has shown cognitive behavioral therapy and mind-body interventions such as Tai Chi are effective at treating insomnia among breast cancer survivors, less is known about their effectiveness in reversing inflammation caused by insomnia. The new study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity this month, compared the two therapies among 90 breast cancer survivors using blood samples over 15 months to analyze changes in inflammation biomarkers. Researchers found Tai Chi specifically led to more significant, sustained reduction in inflammation among participants compared to cognitive behavioral therapy.
By comparison, cognitive behavioral therapy participants had greater anti-viral gene transcripts, which potentially improve the body’s defenses against infections. “Tai Chi can be readily provided in community settings, with minimal cost, and can tr.
