Older people who take sleep medications for insomnia may be increasing their risk of falls, according to new research from Penn State investigators.

When a person has trouble sleeping, he or she is more likely to walk around in dark at night, even while on prescription sleep medications, said Orfeu Buxton, Ph.D., associate professor of biobehavioral health.

Cognitive behavioral therapy or other non-medication treatment for insomnia may be a better choice, he said, although more research is needed.

Findings appeared in Sleep