New research indicates that Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy can help reduce insomnia in breast cancer survivors and offer health benefits by decreasing inflammation and enhancing anti-viral defenses.
Chronic insomnia is a common issue among cancer survivors, posing health risks like inflammatory diseases that could raise the chances of cancer recurrence.
Approximately 30% of breast cancer survivors face insomnia, which is double the rate compared to the general population. While previous studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy and mind-body practices like Tai Chi are effective in treating insomnia among breast cancer survivors, their impact on reversing inflammation linked with insomnia is less known.
A recent study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity compared Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy in 90 breast cancer survivors over 15 months using blood samples to analyze changes in inflammation markers.
The study revealed that Tai Chi led to a more substantial and sustained reduction in inflammation compared to cognitive behavioral therapy. On the other hand, participants in cognitive behavioral therapy showed increased levels of anti-viral gene transcripts, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to fight infections.
Dr. Michael Irwin, the study’s lead author and a professor at UCLA Health, mentioned that Tai Chi is a low-cost intervention that can effectively address insomnia in different populations, including cancer survivors. According to him, Tai Chi has the added benefit of reducing inflammation specifically in breast cancer survivors.
The research used blood samples from a 2017 study led by Dr. Irwin, where participants were divided into groups receiving either Tai Chi or cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for three months. Blood samples were taken at various intervals to track changes.
Analysis revealed that Tai Chi participants exhibited reduced markers of inflammation, while cognitive behavioral therapy participants showed an increase in anti-viral gene transcripts.
Dr. Irwin emphasized the impact of treating insomnia on the immune system and highlighted the preference of Tai Chi in reducing inflammation and cognitive behavioral therapy in improving anti-viral immunity.
While the study had limitations like the demographics of the participants and the need for further research across diverse populations, ongoing studies are exploring the effects of these therapies on cancer survivor outcomes.
