Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects sleep patterns, causing vivid hallucinations, cataplexy, and poor sleep quality. Medications can help treat cataplexy, but there is no cure. Narcolepsy is difficult to diagnose and can affect people of all ages. Scientists are studying the gene responsible for narcolepsy in mice and dogs to find a possible cure for humans.
Narcolepsy is, at this time, an incurable neurological disorder that affects sleep patterns. Most people who hear the term assume that the biggest challenge with this condition is falling asleep consistently. In fact, most sufferers can doze off for very short periods of the day, but their biggest concerns are vivid hallucinations upon awakening, as well as vivid dreams during sleep and cataplexy, a condition in which the voluntary muscles suddenly cannot be controlled.
Cataplexy causes temporary paralysis, which can be especially uncomfortable if you wake up from a distressing dream. Some medications are available to help treat cataplexy. These are tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Tricyclics include drugs such as protrytpiline and SSRIs are often recognized by their brand names of Prozac® or Zoloft®.
Most of the time, however, people with narcolepsy feel sleepy constantly and usually find that their sleep quality is poorer at night. Avoiding caffeine may help with sleep at night, but there is still a lack of alertness during the day. Many deal with the condition by taking short naps during the day, usually when they are sleepiest. Often, sleepy feelings occur at regular and reliable intervals, and short naps can prevent you from falling asleep.
People with narcolepsy who fall asleep tend to stay asleep for only a few minutes at a time. However, some can sleep up to an hour. This makes it challenging for all involved, as it is difficult to get work done when falling asleep on a regular basis. Also, many narcoleptic people cannot drive as this is considered dangerous to themselves and others.
Narcolepsy most commonly has an onset in those in their 10s and 20s. The condition can take a long time, however, to diagnose. It has an occurrence rate of approximately 025% in those living in the United States. Diagnosis is usually made by studying evidence of drowsiness and cataplexy. Additional sleep studies can be performed during the day to evaluate for the presence of narcolepsy. Even with such studies, the diagnosis is usually not definitive. Over time, because sleep episodes occur frequently, the diagnosis is usually made on this evidence. Some evidence suggests that this condition may lessen somewhat as we age.
Scientists believe they have identified the gene responsible for narcolepsy in mice and dogs. It is hoped that this study will help identify the gene in humans and direct efforts towards possible gene therapy as a cure. Studies in mice and dogs may point the way to evolving a cure for humans.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
