Study Links Genetic Cause to Sleepwalking

According to new findings from the Washington University School of Medicine, a faulty chromosome is responsible for sleepwalkers's behavior. A study of four generations of the same family allowed researchers to narrow down the variation to a section of chromosome 20.

Just one copy of the defective chromosome is enough to cause sleepwalking, the researchers said. They hope to target the genes involved and find new treatments for the condition that affects up to 10 percent of children and one in 50 adults.