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Tai Chi may reduce insomnia and inflammatory disease in breast cancer survivors


Tai Chi health benefits

CANCER DIGEST – June 30, 2024 – Tai Chi, the ancient Chinese exercise that combines movement and mental relaxation to achieve body and mind harmony may also reduce insomnia and inflammation in breast cancer survivors, a new study shows.


The study by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) aimed to see  if Tai Chi would be useful in reducing insomnia among breast cancer survivors. Chronic insomnia is one of the most prominent symptoms experienced by cancer survivors, occurring in 30 percent of breast cancer survivors, a much higher rate than that of the population as a whole.


Insomnia poses significant health risks, including increased risk of inflammatory disease that affects cardiovascular health and increases risk of cancer recurrence.


The study, led by Dr. Michael Irwin, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, compared two therapies among 90 women breast cancer survivors. The women were randomly assigned to three months of Tai Chi or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). 


The women were then followed for 15 months after the therapy using blood samples taken from the women before treatment and at 2, 3, 6 and 15 month intervals after treatment.  The researchers analyzed changes in blood markers of inflammation. The findings were published online ahead of the Aug. 2024 edition of the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.


The results showed that both Tai Chi and CBT led to significant improvement in insomnia. Tai Chi led to more significant and sustained reduction in inflammation compared to CBT. However, patients in the cognitive behavioral group had a greater boost in immune defenses to viral infections.


“Effective treatment of insomnia has potent impacts on the immune system,” said Irwin in a press release. “Tai Chi preferentially reduces inflammation as compared to cognitive behavioral therapy, whereas cognitive behavioral therapy preferentially improves antiviral immunity or resistance to infectious disease. Further research that examines the combined benefit of Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy is needed, especially in cancer survivors who are at risk for inflammatory disorder as well as infectious disease.” 


A significant limitation of the study was that most of the participants were white, older and had higher education levels. Consequently further studies will be needed to test the effectiveness of the therapies across more diverse populations. Such additional research is under way.


Sources: UCLA Health press release and online edition published ahead of the Aug. 2024 Brain, Behavior, and Immunity



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