Sleepwalking in Adults May Have Genetic Roots

Reuters Health via Yahoo ^ | 4-19-02 | Alison McCook

[Pharmboy]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adults appear to have different sleepwalking traits from children, and some may have genetic reasons for engaging in nighttime rambling, according to new research.

In the study, investigators found that while children who sleepwalk rarely recall anything about their behavior, more than one third of adult sleepwalkers had some kind of memory or dream associated with the event. In addition, one quarter of adult sleepwalkers had a family history of the behavior.

The results were presented this week at the American Academy of Neurology (news - web sites)'s annual meeting in Denver, Colorado, and are based on evaluations of 74 adult sleepwalkers who came to the Sleep Center of the University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland.

Between 1% and 4% of adults are sleepwalkers. In an interview with Reuters Health, lead author Dr. Claudio Bassetti of the University of Switzerland in Zurich explained that the activity results from motor control problems. Most people become paralyzed during sleep, he said, but sleepwalkers either wake up their bodies and not their minds, or lose the ability to silence their bodies while asleep.

In the latter case, "you get activated to do things, even though your mind is still asleep," he explained.

These control problems may have a genetic basis. Bassetti found that 24% of his patients reported having a family member who also sleepwalked, and 50% carried a particular genetic marker related to the immune system that is present in only one quarter of the general population.

In addition, 23% of the sleepwalkers had some type of psychological problem, and 18% had neurological disorders. Bassetti said he suspected these disorders related to sleepwalking behaviors, so treating the disorder might help with sleepwalking, as well.

A significant proportion of the patients in this study reported violent events that occurred while they were asleep, with more than 40% screaming at night, and 19% having been injured while sleepwalking.

A small number of patients die each year during sleepwalking, Bassetti said, but he hesitates to highlight the risks. While he said patients who express violence or agitation while sleepwalking should be treated, he does not want to overdramatize the dangers associated with the activity, since it is so common. "On the other hand," he said, "I think it's good to talk about it, because we had some serious injuries."

Researchers understand very little about sleepwalking, which Bassetti attributed to a lack of awareness of sleep problems in general. Too often, he explained, people associate difficulty sleeping with psychological problems or bad habits.

However, Bassetti said he believed the medical community was becoming more interested in the activity. "I think awareness is just increasing," he said.

[Pharmboy]

For every behavior we have--"normal" as well as wacky-- there is a significant genetic component.

Just another illustration.

And, of course, perhaps more awareness may save some injuries and lives.

[Gabz]

Too often, he explained, people associate difficulty sleeping with psychological problems or bad habits.

Here it comes - something else they can blame on smoking - sleep walking...................

[overtaxd]

My daughter has/had "night terrors" which are a sleep disturbance different than and worse than regular nightmares. This condition is believed to be inherited. If your parents have it, you are more likely to have it.