UVA online insomnia treatment could help older adults sleep

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- An online insomnia treatment developed by the University of Virginia's (UVA) School of Medicine could help older adults get better sleep, according to the results of a clinical trial.

According to the university, about 311 people between the ages of 55 to 95 participated in a clinical trial for this insomnia intervention treatment: the Sleep Health Using The Internet For Older Adults Suffering with Insomnia and Sleeplessness (SHUTi OASIS).

"SHUTi OASIS significantly outperformed the standard materials at the end of the trial, six months later and again a year after the trial ended," UVA said in a press release. "This was measured both by participants’ descriptions of their ability to sleep and by clinical indicators of insomnia and remission."

Additionally, participants had higher-quality sleep and woke up less during the night than they would have if they had used said standard materials.

Older adults experience insomnia at a higher rate than any other age group, per UVA, which can lead to other health issues. It can also increase these adults' risk of falling.

The university said SHUTi OASIS is the first insomnia-related digital health program specifically meant for older adults.

"In our trial, almost a third of participants were 70 years old or older," said Lee Ritterbrand, the creator of SHUTi and the director of UVA Health’s Center for Behavioral Health & Technology, in the release. "Not only did we find that this works, but we found that older adults were able to do this with very little, if any, additional help.”

SHUTi OASIS aims not only to address this age group's struggles with sleep, but to close accessibility gaps, according to UVA. While cognitive behavioral therapy can be a great help to those struggling with insomnia, it can be inaccessible for some -- particularly to those in rural areas or with lower incomes.

“There is a critical need for behavioral interventions that are easily accessible and highly scalable," Ritterband said in the release. "And, as our population ages, we must have treatments that work for older adults. Given how many people experience insomnia, particularly as they get older, SHUTi OASIS and programs like it are going to be increasingly important for addressing widespread sleep difficulties in an efficient and cost-effective way.”