There's a 29% Chance You Have Sleepwalked

Study also links sleepwalking to depression, sleep disorders
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 15, 2012 12:44 PM CDT
There's a 29% Chance You Have Sleepwalked
Turns out lots of US adults have sleepwalked.   (Shutterstock)

Nearly one in three adults in the US have sleepwalked, a new study finds. Researchers surveyed 16,000 Americans and found that 29% of respondents said they had sleepwalked at least once; almost 3% said they do it as often as once a month and another 1% said they do it at least twice a month. Prior to this, "We did not know what was the prevalence of sleepwalking—as a disorder—in the general population, and that was a big problem," says the lead researcher.

Prior research has been based on lab studies, but this one focused on home sleepwalking activity. Among its other findings: severe depression, OCD, insomnia, and sleep apnea can increase the likelihood you’ll sleepwalk. Also linked to an increased possibility of sleepwalking: drinking heavily and taking sleeping pills, Reuters reports. (More sleepwalking stories.)

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