Other Sleep Disorders

Other sleep disorders can occur in older people but are rare. These disorders include sleepwalking, sudden collapse into sleep (narcolepsy), and night terrors. People who had these disorders as children may continue to experience them as they age. Night terrors in older people may be a sign of emotional difficulties that require assessment by a psychiatrist. Treatment for narcolepsy may require drugs that stimulate the brain, such as methylphenidate or modafinil.