Aging is accompanied by a great many challenges. New research highlights a crucial connection between mental and physical well-being. It demonstrates how addressing trauma can not only alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in older adults but also significantly reduce a major health concern in this population: frailty. Frailty refers to a state of diminished physiological resilience, increasing vulnerability to falls, injuries, and other health complications.

According to Ellen Gielkens, a prominent researcher in the Netherlands, whose primary focus is the application of eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with older adults, the recognition of underlying PTSD in this population is often missed. She explains, “PTSD is often overlooked in older adults because they rarely seek help specifically for PTSD symptoms. Instead, they present with physical complaints, sleep disturbances, or memory issues, which tend to attract primary attention. PTSD can contribute to, exacerbate, and maintain these problems.”

Gielkens and colleagues’ feasibility study published in January 2025 examines the  impact of EMDR therapy on both frailty and quality of life in adults aged 60 and over. The study found that participants undergoing EMDR therapy demonstrated a reduction in frailty alongside improvements in their overall quality of life, regardless of whether participants received EMDR for three, six, or nine months. 

Gielkens notes that the finding was unexpected. “We tend to associate trauma therapy outcomes mainly with psychological improvements. However, the observed reduction in frailty, a broader measure of physical, psychological, and social vulnerability, highlights the strong mind-body connection, even later in life. Processing trauma may help emotional and physiological resources, positively impacting energy, physical fitness, and social engagement.”

EMDR therapy is a structured psychotherapy using bilateral stimulation to facilitate the processing of distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. While the exact mechanisms are still being researched, it’s believed that EMDR enhances communication between different brain regions, allowing for more adaptive memory processing. In the context of older adults, EMDR can be adapted to address the specific challenges they face, such as losses, health issues, or past traumas that may resurface with age. 

The surprising link between unresolved trauma and frailty highlights the significant impact of mental well-being on physical health in older adults. The research suggests that aging is not solely a physical decline, and through therapy, the cycle of chronic stress contributing to frailty can be interrupted, thus improving physical resilience and overall health.

While EMDR shows promise in addressing trauma and its physical manifestations in older adults, it’s important to consider that treating PTSD in older adults presents unique considerations compared to younger populations. Experts in geriatric mental health emphasize the need to tailor therapeutic approaches to accommodate the cognitive shifts, physical limitations and varying emotional needs of older adults. Shorter term interventions, like those used in this study, may be better suited for this population due to factors such as cognitive changes or physical limitations. 

These preliminary findings offer hope for older adults who have experienced trauma, demonstrating that they can improve both their mental and physical well-being. This potential for improved care extends the potential support systems of older adults to deal with challenges associated with aging and offers a compelling message: reclaiming mental and physical strength is possible at any age.

Gielkens emphasizes, “These findings suggest the need for a more trauma-informed approach in elder care, emphasizing preventative measures against frailty by addressing underlying trauma. We now understand that trauma treatment for older adults doesn’t just improve psychological well-being but is also important for their overall functioning and quality of life.”

–Sierrah Hamilton, Contributing Writer

Feature Image: Photo by Danie Franco on Unsplash; Creative Commons

Body Image 1: Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash; Creative Commons

Body Image 2: Photo by Freepik on Freepik; Creative Commons