The normal sleep cycle has distinct stages, from light drowsiness to deep sleep. During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the eyes move quickly and vivid dreaming is most common.
Each night people go through several cycles of non-REM and REM sleep. S leepwalking (somnambulism) most often occurs during deep, non-REM sleep (stage 3 or stage 4 sleep) early in the night. If it occurs during REM sleep, it is part of REM behavior disorder and tends to happen near morning.
The cause of sleepwalking in children is usually unknown. Fatigue, lack of sleep, and anxiety are all associated with sleepwalking.
In adults, sleepwalking may occur with:
Alcohol, sedatives, or other medication Medical conditions, such as partial complex seizures Mental disorders
In the elderly, sleepwalking may be a symptom of an organic brain syndrome or REM behavior disorders.
Sleepwalking can occur at any age, but it happens most often in children ages 5 - 12. It appears to run in families.
What causes Sleep walking?
The normal sleep cycle has distinct stages, from light drowsiness to deep sleep. During rapid eye movement ({{ORGANIZATION}}) sleep, the eyes move quickly and vivid dreaming is most common.
Each night people go through several cycles of non-REM and {{ORGANIZATION}} sleep. S leepwalking (somnambulism) most often occurs during deep, non-REM sleep (stage 3 or stage 4 sleep) early in the night. If it occurs during {{ORGANIZATION}} sleep, it is part of {{ORGANIZATION}} behavior disorder and tends to happen near morning.
The cause of sleepwalking in children is usually unknown. Fatigue, lack of sleep, and anxiety are all associated with sleepwalking.
In adults, sleepwalking may occur with:
Alcohol, sedatives, or other medication Medical conditions, such as partial complex seizures Mental disorders
In the elderly, sleepwalking may be a symptom of an organic brain syndrome or {{ORGANIZATION}} behavior disorders.
Sleepwalking can occur at any age, but it happens most often in children ages 5 - 12. It appears to run in families.