Sleepwalking far more common than once thought, study says

Sleepwalking is more prevalent in the US than once thought, says a new study.

Researchers at Stanford University found that 3.6 percent of Americans – 8.4 million people – sleepwalk every year.

The study also found that 30 percent of adults said that they had nocturnal wandering at least once in their life.

The phone survey, which included over 16,000 adults in 15 states, asked participants about their sleeping habits and any known disorders they have.

Reuters reported that the survey found that those who sleepwalk are also likely to have things like sleep apnea, insomnia, and are more likely to be taking sleeping pills.

Depression was also a determining factor of sleepwalking.

Time reported that the study found those suffering from depression were 3.5 times more likely to walk in their sleep.

There have been few previous studies estimating the number of people that sleepwalk.

WebMd said that one past study put the number at about 2.5 percent.

"I would like to correct the impression that sleepwalking is rare," said lead author Maurice Ohayon, of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center, reported USA Today.

"This is a huge number of people."

The study is found in the journal Neurology.