Among the things that can cause sleepwalking are stress, menstruation, and alcohol consumption. Some persons experience sleepwalking in addition to other medical illnesses, such as dementia and other mental health disorders.
A form of sleep condition termed parasomnia includes sleepwalking, sometimes referred to as somnambulism. Unusual activities that occur before, during, or after you fall asleep are known as parasomnias.
Most people experience sleepwalking during the early portion of their sleep cycle. It takes place during slow-wave sleep, which is the deepest type of non-REM sleep. It is exceedingly challenging to wake someone who is in this stage of sleep.
As they become older, sleepwalking usually goes away completely for most kids.
Which mental health disorders lead to sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking may be caused by medical disorders that change how your brain works while you sleep. Sleepwalking has been linked to the following mental health issues:
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
post-traumatic stress disorder
substance use disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder
psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are examples of anxiety disorders.
Sleepwalking in mental health issues may be caused by changes in the structure, chemical balance, and neuron function of your brain as well as by taking drugs like antidepressants and antipsychotics.
You do not necessarily have a mental illness if you sleepwalk. The majority of sleepwalkers do not have a mental illness, and many people with mental illnesses never experience sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking is one of the main symptoms of mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders.
It is always advised to consult a healthcare provider while experiencing parasomnia because sleepwalking may manifest before obvious symptoms of another physical or mental health issue.
Do I need to worry about sleepwalking?
The only medical illness for which sleepwalking is a diagnostic sign is parasomnia. It can happen to people who have no other health problems, but it can also be linked to a number of conditions, such as:
Genetics, stress, and alcohol consumption
cycle of menstruation
headaches, migraines, and other sleep issues
Lack of sleep can cause strokes.
brain damage
Overactive thyroid condition obstructive sleep apnea
The condition known as restless legs
neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s
mental health issues, such as depression drugs
Although there are many factors that can affect blood flow patterns and brain function, most sleepwalking is considered benign and doesn’t require treatment. The precise mechanisms behind sleepwalking are not fully understood, but experts believe that changes in the brain’s activity and blood flow patterns at night may disrupt the normally smooth transition from sleeping to wakefulness, creating a mixed state where parts of your brain are still asleep while others behave as though you’re awake.
Does sleepwalking indicate the onset of dementia?
Sleepwalking may be a risk factor for dementia in some persons.
According to a major prospective cohort study from 2023, sleepwalking in older persons could suggest the beginning of underlying neurological processes that contribute to the development of dementia.
“Dementia” is a general word used to describe clinically significant cognitive decline in a variety of domains, including behavior, memory, thinking, and motor skills. It denotes a degree of deterioration that is higher than what is normal of age.
Dementia can result from a wide range of illnesses, some of which, such as Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, may impact the areas of the brain that control sleep cycles and transitions.
Sleepwalking does not necessarily indicate that you will undoubtedly get dementia, nor does it occur in all people with dementia.