Sleepwalking and narcolepsy are separate diagnoses, but they can occur together. Sometimes, automatic behaviors in narcolepsy can be confused with symptoms of sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking and narcolepsy are separate diagnoses, but they can occur together. Sometimes, automatic behaviors in narcolepsy can be confused with symptoms of sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a type of parasomnia. Parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders featuring unusual experiences and behaviors that occur while you sleep. They can include dreams, vocalizations, movements, or intense emotions that happen throughout the sleep cycle.

Because sleepwalking occurs during your non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) classifies it as a “non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorder, sleep-walking type” of parasomnia.

Sleepwalking is more common in children than adults. It’s estimated that as many as 15% of children experience at least one sleepwalking episode, but only 2-4% of adults live with this parasomnia.

Sleepwalking and narcolepsy aren’t the same. Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder. It can be broken down into two main types:

  • Type 1 narcolepsy (with cataplexy and/or low hypocretin levels)
  • Type 2 narcolepsy (normal hypocretin levels and no cataplexy)

Hypocretin is a substance that helps regulate your sleep cycles and is produced by your hypothalamus. Cataplexy refers to episodes of sudden muscle weakness often triggered by strong emotion.

In narcolepsy, the brain has trouble regulating your sleep-wake cycle, which causes fragmented sleep. It leads to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and can cause other symptoms like sleep paralysis and cataplexy.

An estimated 14 per 100,000 people live with type 1 narcolepsy, and around 65 per 100,000 people live with type 2 narcolepsy.

Sleepwalking does not appear to be more common in narcolepsy.

A 2022 study, for example, found that sleepwalking is as common in narcolepsy as sleepwalking among the broader population without narcolepsy. According to the study authors, this suggests the conditions may overlap by chance.

It’s possible for sleepwalking to appear more common than it is when it’s confused with experiences in narcolepsy called “automatic behaviors.” These are continued movements or actions when a person is entering sleep, almost as though they are on “autopilot.”

For example, a person may continue to walk or talk while partially asleep or with their eyes closed.

Both sleepwalking and automatic behaviors in narcolepsy can feature a memory block, where you have no recollection of what took place.

Sleepwalking and narcolepsy are separate diagnoses. They can occur together, but not everyone living with narcolepsy experiences sleepwalking, and sleepwalking does not mean you live with narcolepsy.

The exact cause of sleepwalking isn’t clear. Research suggests that changes in blood flow to the brain during sleep may stimulate regions responsible for motor function and movement, while other areas of the brain remain asleep.

This allows you to perform complex movements without being in a state of awareness.

Risk factors for sleepwalking include:

  • age (it’s more prevalent among children)
  • some medications
  • neurodegenerative diseases

The exact causes of narcolepsy also aren’t well understood. Type 1 narcolepsy is associated with low levels of the brain chemical hypocretin, which promotes wakefulness and regulates REM sleep.

The causes of type 2 narcolepsy are less clear and likely involve a complex interplay of genetics, environmental factors, and immune responses.

Risk factors for narcolepsy include:

  • having a close relative with narcolepsy
  • experiencing a brain injury
  • living with an autoimmune condition

Treatment for people who have both sleepwalking and narcolepsy considers both conditions and requires a multidisciplinary approach.

The medical team might include:

  • sleep doctor
  • neurologist
  • behavioral sleep specialist
  • primary care physician

These professionals work together to create a comprehensive treatment plan focused on stabilizing your sleep to reduce symptoms of both conditions.

Narcolepsy often requires medications to manage daytime sleepiness and regulate sleep cycles. A doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, sleep hygiene, and psychotherapy to help you develop beneficial habits and cope with symptoms.

Currently, there’s no FDA-approved medication for sleepwalking. Treatment focuses on safety precautions to prevent unintentional injury (such as locking doors and windows) and improving sleep hygiene to enhance sleep quality.

One older case study from 2018 found that the narcolepsy medication sodium oxybate improved symptoms of sleepwalking and narcolepsy in a 44-year-old man living with both conditions. But this medication is not a go-to treatment for sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking and narcolepsy are two separate conditions and stand-alone diagnoses. Although rare, they can occur together. Sometimes, automatic behaviors seen in narcolepsy can be mistaken for sleepwalking.

When sleepwalking and narcolepsy occur together, a comprehensive treatment plan may involve medications, psychotherapy, safety precautions, and sleep hygiene practices.