Sleep
- Sleep Disorders Overview
- Symptoms
- Insomnia
- Sleep Apnea
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Nightmares
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep Terrors
- Tips and Guides
- Tips for a Good Night's Sleep
- A Guide to Sleeping Better
- Kids and Sleep
- Clinical Trials
- Online Resources
News
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06 Jan 2009
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06 Jan 2009
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06 Jan 2009
- Substance Abuse Ups Health Care Costs
06 Jan 2009
- Unraveling The Genetics of Alzheimer’s
05 Jan 2009
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy affects an estimated 250,000 Americans. People with narcolepsy have frequent "sleep attacks" at various times of the day, even if they have had a normal amount of night-time sleep. These attacks last from several seconds to more than 30 minutes. People with narcolepsy also may experience cataplexy (loss of muscle control during emotional situations), hallucinations, temporary paralysis when they awaken, and disrupted night-time sleep. These symptoms seem to be features of REM sleep that appear during waking, which suggests that narcolepsy is a disorder of sleep regulation. The symptoms of narcolepsy typically appear during adolescence, though it often takes years to obtain a correct diagnosis. The disorder (or at least a predisposition to it) is usually hereditary, but it occasionally is linked to brain damage from a head injury or neurological disease.
Once narcolepsy is diagnosed, stimulants, antidepressants, or other drugs can help control the symptoms and prevent the embarrassing and dangerous effects of falling asleep at improper times. Naps at certain times of the day also may reduce the excessive daytime sleepiness.
In 1999, a research team working with canine models identified a gene that causes narcolepsy -- a breakthrough that brings a cure for this disabling condition within reach. The gene, hypocretin receptor 2, codes for a protein that allows brain cells to receive instructions from other cells. The defective versions of the gene encode proteins that cannot recognize these messages, perhaps cutting the cells off from messages that promote wakefulness. The researchers know that the same gene exists in humans, and they are currently searching for defective versions in people with narcolepsy.
Learn more about the official diagnostic criteria for narcolepsy.
Table of Contents
- An Introduction to Sleep Disorders
- How Much Sleep Do We Need?
- Insomnia
- Sleep Apnea
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Tips for a Good Night's Sleep
- Learn more about Circadian Rhythms
- Learn more about Dreaming and REM Sleep
» Next in Series: Tips for a Good Night's Sleep
Respect ... is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique.
-- Annie Gottlier
