UCLA Using T’ai Chi Chih in Research Studies – An Update

It has been my privilege to be the instructor for ongoing research studies being conducted at UCLA to investigate whether a regular practice of T’ai Chi Chih can ameliorate issues of sleep disturbance and depression faced by older adults. The three current studies underway are geared toward aging adults, from age 50 to upwards of 80, including two insomnia studies lead by Dr. Michael R. Irwin of the Cousins Center for Psychoneuro-immunology, David Geffen School of Medicine.

The first insomnia study began in 2006, and it’s a 5-year study with participants meeting for one-hour sessions of TCC instruction twice a week for 16 weeks. The second insomnia study began in 2007 and targets breast cancer survivors, with participants meeting once a week for 2-hour sessions over a period of 12 weeks. The third study is a 3-year project being conducted by Dr. Helen Lavretsky of the Semel Institute, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, investigating the effects of regular TCC practice on depression in older adults. The participants in this study meet once a week for 2-hour sessions over a period of 10 weeks.

The theory behind Dr. Irwin’s insomnia studies is that one reason people experience insomnia is that the tension held in the body all day remains in the body as we try to sleep. Therefore, if we can reduce stress in the body during the day (with TCC), perhaps the increased levels of relaxation can be carried into sleep to produce a better quality of sleep.

Dr. Irwin’s studies are randomized, with one group receiving drugs or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and one group receiving TCC instruction. In an interview appearing in the July 2, 2008 issue of Reuters Health, Dr. Irwin reported “More than half of older adults experience sleeping problems at least a few times a week.” He went on to explain, “While CBT can ease insomnia, few therapists have the training to offer this type of treatment, which is also relatively expensive. And while aerobic exercise can also help people sleep better, vigorous workouts aren’t an option for many seniors.” He continued to note that, “When TCC group members were practicing on their own, they logged close to 20 to 30 minutes a day on average, which is pretty remarkable.” Dr. Irwin added, “The other thing I thought was pretty remarkable is how few dropouts we had in our study” – only seven of 59 people in the TCC group did not complete the study. In the current insomnia studies, the participants are followed for one year after the conclusion of TCC instruction.

Additionally, as Dr. Irwin pointed out in a recent interview conducted by CBS, TCC has been selected for these studies because of its simplicity, since it can be learned in a relatively short period of time and a larger number of the participants are able to continue their practice after the instruction period is completed. Two of the participants from a previously published study (geared toward investigating the effects of TCC on preventing shingles) were also interviewed regarding the benefits they observed from their practice relating to their sleep since the study concluded a few years ago. Both participants reported better sleep quality since they’d incorporated TCC into their daily routine. When I spoke with one participant privately, she admitted that she’d gradually stopped doing her TCC practice and was currently on a nightly dose of sleep medication. After our brief conversation, she was inspired to resume her TCC practice, had slept two consecutive nights without the aid of sleep medication, and was looking forward to continuing TCC.

Since these studies have not been completed, there is no data available at this time, and I am not at liberty to report research findings. However, I continue to receive unsolicited comments from the TCC participants relating to the positive side effects they receive from their regular practice. These include coping with stressful situations in a calmer fashion and an overall feeling of calmness, less joint discomfort, more energy, better balance, more flexibility, and a more positive outlook. We all know the benefits of a regular TCC practice. It’s nice to have the scientific community becoming aware and spreading the word, as well.