Insomnia and sleep medication use connected to disability in older adults

Experts warn against a popular remedy for insomnia — it may increase risk of disability

Insomnia — defined as difficulty falling and/or staying asleep — has been linked to higher odds of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, mental health troubles, cognitive decline and even accidents.

Insomnia and sleep medication use connected to disability in older adults

For adults over the age of 65, higher levels of both insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use were associated with higher risk of disability a year later, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State Department of Biobehavioral Health and the Taipei Medical University Program in Global Health and Health Security.