Sleepless in the Supplement Aisle: What Does the Evidence Show About the Use of Dietary and Herbal Supplements for Sleep Disturbances in Older Adults?

Sleep issues occur in over two-thirds of community-dwelling older adults (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019;27:32–41). Almost three-quarters of long-term care residents and 65% of assisted living residents report problems with sleep (Sleep Med Clin 2018;13:117–125; J Am Geriatr Soc 2010;58:829–836). In older adults who are already at risk for chronic disease, inadequate sleep may compound medical conditions (“Why Is Sleep Important?” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Mar. 24, 2022, https://bit.ly/NHLBI-sleep).