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Sleepwalking is one of those bizarre things that feels like it belongs in a movie. It has fascinated and spooked us for centuries. If you've ever found your kid standing silently in the hallway at 2 a.m., or heard a story about someone whipping up a midnight snack while completely asleep, you know how strange—and sometimes funny—it can be.
But what's really going on? Is it dangerous? And is there anything you can do to stop it?
Let's pull back the curtain on sleepwalking. We'll explore what it is, what's happening in the brain, who's most likely to do it, and most importantly, how to keep everyone safe and sound.
Sleep experts have a fancy term for sleepwalking: parasomnia. It's an umbrella term for any unusual behavior that happens while you're asleep, like sleep talking, night terrors, or acting out dreams.
When someone sleepwalks, a part of their brain is just awake enough to get their body moving. But the parts in charge of consciousness, decision-making, and memory are completely out of it. This is why a person can get up, walk around, and even open the fridge, all while having zero memory of it the next morning.
It can look pretty eerie. Sleepwalkers often have their eyes open, but with a glassy, vacant stare. If you try to talk to them, you might get a mumbled reply or just nonsense. They're also really hard to wake up. But contrary to the old myth, it's not dangerous to wake a sleepwalker—they'll just be very confused and startled.
Recent research shows sleepwalking is more common than many people realize. According to a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis published in PLOS One, the lifetime prevalence of sleepwalking is approximately 6.9% of the population. The study found that current prevalence rates are significantly higher in children (5.0%) compared to adults (1.5%).
Most children who sleepwalk do so between the ages of 4 and 8, and the good news is that most kids simply grow out of it by the time they're teenagers.
As pediatric health psychologist Dr. Areti Vassilopoulos explains, "Children spend more time in deep sleep than adults, and that's when sleepwalking happens. So it's not unusual for kids to have occasional episodes—and in most cases, they grow out of it naturally." Basically, if your child is a sleepwalker, it's usually just a passing phase and not something to panic about.
Adults can sleepwalk too, but it's much rarer. And often, they have no idea they're doing it unless a partner or roommate tells them.
To understand sleepwalking, you have to understand sleep. Our brains cycle through different stages all night: light sleep, deep sleep (also called slow-wave sleep), and REM sleep (the dream stage).
Sleepwalking almost always happens during deep sleep, typically in the first few hours after you drift off. This is the stage where your body does most of its physical repair and memory consolidation. Normally, your brain paralyzes your muscles to keep you still.
But sometimes, the brain messes up the transition. Research using brain imaging techniques has revealed fascinating insights into what's happening during sleepwalking episodes. A groundbreaking study published in the PMC database used single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to examine brain perfusion patterns during sleepwalking episodes. The research showed that sleepwalkers have altered brain activity patterns, with some regions more active than expected during what should be deep sleep.
The part that controls movement gets a "wake up" signal, while the parts responsible for rational thought stay offline. It's like the brain is stuck in neutral, halfway between asleep and awake—a weird hybrid state that scientists are still trying to fully understand. Current research in neuroscience suggests this dissociation between brain regions explains the altered consciousness and disinhibited behaviors seen in sleepwalking.
Some people are just more prone to wandering at night. Here's a look at who is most at risk:
Kids: They're the biggest group of sleepwalkers because their brains spend a lot more time in that extra-deep sleep stage.
People with a Family History: Sleepwalking definitely runs in families. If you or your partner were sleepwalkers, there's a good chance your kids might be, too. Research consistently shows a strong genetic component to sleepwalking disorders.
The Sleep-Deprived: Ironically, not getting enough sleep can make you sleepwalk more. Your brain tries to compensate by diving into deeper sleep, which increases the odds of an episode.
Anyone Under Stress: Anxiety and stress are notorious for messing with our sleep, and they can trigger sleepwalking by causing your brain to jolt partway awake. Recent research from the University of Montreal published in Frontiers in Neurology has explored how the "fight or flight" response may be involved in sleepwalking episodes.
People on Certain Medications: Some drugs, including certain sedatives or antidepressants, can alter sleep architecture and make sleepwalking more likely.
Those with Other Sleep Disorders: Conditions like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome disrupt sleep and can increase the risk of a nighttime stroll.
It's rarely just one thing. Sleepwalking is usually a cocktail of genetics, your environment, and your daily habits. Some of the most common triggers include:
Being Overtired: This is the big one. As sleep expert Dr. Michael Grandner puts it, "When people don't get enough sleep, the pressure for deep sleep builds up. That can cause the brain to get 'stuck' between sleep stages, making sleepwalking more likely." In short, being exhausted can paradoxically make your sleep less stable.
A Messed-Up Sleep Schedule: Jet lag, shift work, or just an inconsistent bedtime can throw your internal clock for a loop.
Stress and Anxiety: A worried mind doesn't rest well. Emotional turmoil can lead to those partial arousals from deep sleep that set the stage for sleepwalking.
Alcohol: A drink might make you feel drowsy, but it disrupts the quality of your sleep later in the night, which can trigger an episode.
Fever or Sickness: Especially in kids, a high fever can sometimes be a trigger.
By itself, no. But the things people do while sleepwalking can be very dangerous.
During an episode, a person might:
All of these actions carry a real risk of falls, burns, or other accidental injuries. Research published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has highlighted that adult sleepwalking is a serious condition that can significantly impact health-related quality of life, particularly due to the risk of injury during episodes.
As clinical psychologist Dr. Suzanne Gorovoy notes, "One of the biggest risks of sleepwalking is the potential for accidental injury. That's why making the sleep environment safe is so important." You might not be able to stop every episode, but you can definitely make them less dangerous.
So, what can you do? While there's no magic bullet, a few practical steps can make a huge difference.
It all starts with good sleep habits:
For more comprehensive guidance on building healthy sleep habits, check out these 11 ways to sleep better and discover 10 tips to improve your sleep.
For adults especially, managing stress can work wonders:
If you know you're prone to sleepwalking, cutting back on alcohol, especially close to bedtime, is a smart move. Learn more about how alcohol affects sleep and why that nightcap might be doing more harm than good.
If you snore like a freight train, wake up gasping for air, or always feel tired, you might have a condition like sleep apnea. Check out these signs of sleep apnea to see if you should consult a doctor. Getting it treated can often reduce or eliminate sleepwalking.
This is the most important step for immediate safety:
If you come across a sleepwalker in action, here's the best way to handle it:
Most of the time, sleepwalking isn't a big deal. But it's a good idea to check in with a doctor if:
A doctor might recommend a sleep study to see what's going on. Medical research shows that understanding the neurobiology of sleep disorders like sleepwalking is crucial for proper treatment. Medication is sometimes prescribed, but it's usually a last resort after safety measures and lifestyle changes have been tried.
If you're looking for non-medication approaches, consider exploring natural alternatives to sleep medication or learning about CBT for insomnia, which can be effective for various sleep disorders.
Sleepwalking can be unsettling, but it's also more common than we think. While there's no official "cure," most people can manage it effectively. For kids, the best news is that time is usually the best medicine—they almost always grow out of it.
For anyone dealing with it, the path forward is clear: get enough sleep, manage stress, and above all, make the home environment as safe as possible. By taking these steps, you can turn a potentially scary situation into a manageable one, ensuring everyone gets a peaceful—and safe—night's rest.
If you're struggling with sleep issues beyond sleepwalking, there are many resources available. You might benefit from 8 natural sleep remedies or learning how to improve sleep quality easily at home. For those dealing with persistent sleep problems, sleep coaching can provide personalized strategies to improve your sleep patterns naturally.
Recent advances in sleep research continue to shed light on this fascinating phenomenon, and as our understanding grows, so too do our options for managing it safely and effectively.
Take our Sleep Calculator and Chronotype Quiz to learn more about your sleep personality! If you're struggling with jet lag, try our Jet Lag Plan!
Dr. Shiyan Yeo
Dr. Shiyan Yeo is a medical doctor with over a decade of experience treating patients with chronic conditions. She graduated from the University of Manchester with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB UK) and spent several years working at the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, several Singapore government hospitals, and private functional medicine hospitals. Dr. Yeo specializes in root cause analysis, addressing hormonal, gut health, and lifestyle factors to treat chronic conditions. Drawing from her own experiences, she is dedicated to empowering others to optimize their health. She loves traveling, exploring nature, and spending quality time with family and friends.
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