In a recent study, reported in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, researchers discovered the first genetic marker for sleepwalking, bringing them a step closer to finding a treatment. Researchers believe the marker, which is related to a genetically determined element of the immune system, is hereditary. Dr. Mehdi Tafti, a Swiss scientist involved in the study, found a strong association between sleepwalking and a newly discovered gene variation in a family of genes known as HLA genes. HLA genes provide the information needed to allow the body to create immune cells.

“This is not a sleepwalking gene but if you have this variant, you have a 3.5 times higher risk of sleepwalking,” says Tafti. “The figure is even higher if there is a history of sleepwalking in your family.” A sleepwalking child will usually get up during the first two or three hours of sleep and stumble around for a few seconds or as long as hall an hour. He may walk around the house in a daze with eyes open, but will forget the whole incident by morning.

Some children just sit up in bed as if they’re awake, but they’re actually asleep. Most of the time sleepwalkers will stay in their bedrooms, foraging in drawers or closets for a few minutes. If left alone, they will go back to bed. During a sleepwalking episode, children have a heightened ability to navigate by remembering the exact layout of the room, an ability lost when the child is awake and blindfolded.

If a sleepwalking child thinks he is somewhere else, he may walk into walls and doors that are not where he remembered, and risk falling down stairs or through windows. Some children urinate in inappropriate places–in a closet or a toy box–thinking they are in the bathroom. Sleepwalking occurs when the brain has trouble making the transition from non-REM to REM sleep, the dreaming stage. While immaturity may be a factor in children’s sleepwalking, researchers believe adult sleepwalking may be associated with REM sleep behavior disorder. During REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, our bodies have a mechanism that keeps us still so we won’t act out our dreams. This safety feature seems to be missing in people with REM sleep behavior disorder.

Although sleepwalking is not a sign of emotional illness, the risk of injury is real. Wandering children may have accidents. Sleepwalking adults can pose a danger not only to themselves, but to others as well. In Tafti’s study, 19% of patients reported injuries and 32% reported violent incidents occurring during sleepwalking. People with severe problems have tried changing their sleep patterns with psychotherapy, behavior therapy, hypnosis and anti-anxiety medication with dubious results. While most children outgrow sleepwalking, further research is needed before scientists can develop an effective treatment. In the meantime, careful management of your sleepwalker and his environment can minimize stress on the entire family.

Click here to read 5 ways to help your sleepwalking child