Night terrors 'may be hereditary'

Children who toss and turn in bed because they suffer from night terrors may inherit the problem from their parents, new research has found.

The study, conducted by scientists at Montreal's Sacre-Coeur Hospital, also found that in the study of 390 sets of twins, identical children were more likely to experience the disorder.

It is thought that environmental factors could be part of the cause of night terrors as twins are often raised together in similar settings.

Describing the problem, the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, said: "During these events children seem confused and disoriented. Any attempt to awaken them may increase their agitation and prolong their episode."

It is thought that 19 per cent of four to nine-year olds experience night terrors.

In related news, scientists the Columbia University in New York have claimed that there is a link between the amount of time people spend in bed and the risk of developing diabetes, oneindia reported.

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