Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that causes extreme sleepiness during the day or falling asleep spontaneously. Diagnosis can be difficult, but tests such as sleep studies and spinal fluid analysis can help. Research is being done to integrate the chemical hypocretin, which is decreased in those with narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the part of the brain responsible for regulating states of wakefulness or sleep. Some potential symptoms of narcolepsy include extreme sleepiness during the day or falling asleep spontaneously, even in the midst of activities such as work or driving. Getting an accurate diagnosis of narcolepsy can sometimes be difficult, as some of the symptoms can mimic other conditions. Sleep study tests and spinal fluid analysis are often done when trying to diagnose this condition.
Hypocretin is a chemical found in the brain that works to regulate normal sleep cycles. Scientists have discovered a decrease in this chemical among those suffering from narcolepsy. Research is being done to find a way to integrate this chemical deficiency into the patient who has been diagnosed with narcolepsy. It is believed that both heredity and environmental factors may play a role in who develops narcolepsy.
Many times, the only symptom a patient experiences is extreme daytime sleepiness. This prevents or delays many people from seeking a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Sometimes, this condition is misdiagnosed as epilepsy or a non-narcolepsy-related sleep disorder because some of the symptoms are remarkably similar. In fact, getting diagnosed with narcolepsy can sometimes take several months or even several years.
When seeking a diagnosis of narcolepsy, the patient should write down all symptoms, even those that appear to have nothing to do with a sleep disorder. This will often help doctors know what tests should be ordered to get a correct diagnosis. A sleep questionnaire known as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is often completed to provide more detailed information to physicians specializing in sleep disorders.
The patient may be admitted to a clinic or hospital overnight for a sleep test known as a nocturnal polysomnogram. This test measures eye movement and electrical activity in the brain and heart while the patient sleeps. This can be especially helpful when trying to make a diagnosis of narcolepsy. Another type of sleep test, called a multiple sleep latency test, measures how long it takes for a patient to fall asleep.
A newer test used to get a diagnosis of narcolepsy is called a spinal fluid analysis. In this test, a sample of spinal fluid is removed from the body through a procedure known as lumbar puncture or lumbar puncture. The levels of the chemical known as hypocretin are then analyzed. The absence of this chemical in the spinal fluid can lead to a definitive diagnosis of narcolepsy.
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