Sleep talkers 93% more susceptible to stroke, 8 year study reveals

A new eight year study from Shanghai Fudan University found that when two specific sleep behaviors occur together, the risk of stroke increases by up to 93 percent. 

2 Sleep Behaviors Linked to 93pc Higher Stroke Risk

The research team from Shanghai Fudan University published these findings in the international journal Journal of the American Heart Association on October 30, 2024. The researchers analyzed data from 8,001 adults in China to explore the association between talking in one's sleep and the occurrence of stroke.

Research Method: Tracking 8,001 People for 8 Years

The research team utilized data from 8,001 participants in a study based in the Kailuan community in Tangshan City, Hebei Province. The participants had an average age of 54 and no history of stroke. In 2012, the participants completed a questionnaire with the following questions:

• Have you ever talked in your sleep in your lifetime?
• In the past year, have you had one or more experiences of talking in your sleep?

Research Results: 333 Strokes Recorded, 2 Behaviors Increase Risk by 93pc

By 2020, after the eight year follow-up period, the research team had identified 333 stroke cases, including both hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke. The key results are as follows:

• People who talked in their sleep had a 30 percent higher risk of developing stroke compared to those who did not. This association was independent of traditional stroke risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as other sleep factors.
• For individuals who both talked in their sleep and had REM sleep behavior disorder, the risk of stroke increased significantly to 93 percent. (REM sleep behavior disorder is characterized by sudden body movements and vocalizations during the REM sleep stage, often accompanying vivid dreams.)
• Compared to participants who did not talk in their sleep, those who did were more likely to be male, industrial workers, smokers, drinkers, and have lower levels of physical activity.

The study also noted its limitations. Researchers indicated that the condition was identified through self-reported questionnaires, which could lead to underreporting, overreporting, or misclassification of sleep talking and other sleep parameters. Furthermore, as the study was conducted only in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, the generalizability of the findings to other populations might be limited.

Higher Stroke Risk for Sleep Talkers: 11 Symptoms to Watch For

According to data from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Hong Kong, claiming an average of over 3,000 lives annually. Given the potentially severe consequences of stroke, the Hospital Authority advises seeking immediate medical attention if the following warning signs appear, to reduce the risk of long-term complications.

11 Major Symptoms of Stroke

• Body weakness
• Numbness and/or trembling in the face, arm, or leg
• Hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body)
• Slurred speech or loss of speech ability
• Facial drooping, drooping eye
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty swallowing
• Severe headache
• Unsteady gait or falling
• Incontinence
• Drooling

In severe cases, individuals may experience drowsiness or even death.