Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a long-term neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Individuals with narcolepsy experience excessive, uncontrollable daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep, which can occur at inappropriate times and conditions. This sleep disorder is characterized by an array of symptoms such as cataplexy (a sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone triggered by emotions such as laughter), sleep paralysis (inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon awakening), and hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid and often frightening dreams or sounds felt at the onset of sleep). Narcolepsy can significantly disrupt a person's daily routine.

The exact cause of narcolepsy is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a deficiency in hypocretin (also known as orexin), a neurotransmitter that regulates arousal, wakefulness, and appetite. This deficiency is thought to be due to the loss of neurons that produce hypocretin, possibly due to an autoimmune reaction. A combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of narcolepsy. Diagnosis typically requires medical history evaluation, a sleep log, and specific sleep studies such as polysomnography and the multiple sleep latency test. Treatment for narcolepsy includes medications like stimulants, antidepressants, and sodium oxybate, as well as lifestyle changes that promote good sleep hygiene and scheduled daytime naps.