How does narcolepsy occur

Back to Narcolepsy. Many cases of narcolepsy are thought to be caused by a lack of a brain chemical called hypocretin also known as orexin , which regulates sleep. The deficiency is thought to be the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking parts of the brain that produce hypocretin. When antibodies mistakenly attack healthy cells and tissue, it's known as an autoimmune response. In , scientists in Switzerland discovered that some people with narcolepsy produce antibodies against a protein called trib 2.

Trib 2 is produced by an area of the brain that also produces hypocretin. This results in a lack of hypocretin, which means the brain is less able to regulate sleep cycles. How often it occurs varies from person to person. It can happen several times per day to once a year. Sometimes cataplexy may occur later in the disease course, or it may not be known if you take medications that suppress it, such as certain antidepressants.

REM sleep is the sleep stage when you have vivid dreams with loss of muscle tone. It usually starts about 90 minutes after you fall asleep.

REM sleep can happen at any time of day for people with narcolepsy, within about 15 minutes after falling asleep. Sleep paralysis is an inability to move or speak while falling asleep, sleeping, or waking. Episodes last only a few seconds or minutes. Sleep paralysis mimics the paralysis seen during REM sleep.

People with narcolepsy may have vivid hallucinations at the same time as sleep paralysis. The hallucinations usually occur when falling asleep or waking up. Although people with narcolepsy are excessively sleepy during the daytime, they may have difficulty falling asleep at night. Narcolepsy is a chronic condition.

Medications, lifestyle adjustments, and avoiding hazardous activities can all play a part in managing this condition. Daytime sleepiness is common in many types of sleep disorders. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and perform a physical exam. Your doctor will likely order a sleep study for you as well as several other tests to determine and confirm their diagnosis. The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown. In people with narcolepsy, the regulation of sleep is disrupted: the boundaries between wakefulness and sleep are less distinct, and elements of sleep and wakefulness can mix together.

The sleep patterns of people with narcolepsy differ in several ways from the sleep patterns of people who do not have the disorder:. Narcolepsy What Is Narcolepsy? Share Email Digg Facebook Delicious. Narcolepsy is a neurologic disorder and is one of the most common causes of chronic sleepiness. Thomas Scammell. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of nightly sleep for adults and 8 to 10 hours of nightly sleep for teenagers.

In addition to the recommended nightly amount of sleep, many experts suggest brief daytime naps 15 to 20 minutes for those with narcolepsy. A single daytime nap in the mid-afternoon can be helpful to minimize sleep attacks. In one small study , anxiety symptoms were reported in more than 50 percent of individuals with narcolepsy. However, this area is not well studied. Sometimes, the anxiety is specific to narcolepsy.

It may occur in the setting of a frightening dream with sleep paralysis during sleep. You may also have anxiety about having a cataplexy attack or sleep attack in a social situation. In each of these situations, knowledge about the disorder and its treatments may be helpful.

For more pervasive anxiety, seeing a therapist or psychologist may be helpful. Since narcolepsy is rare, other people may not consider that you have a disorder and misinterpret sleep attacks as laziness or not caring.

This can lead to embarrassment and social isolation. Educating family and trusted friends about narcolepsy and its symptoms may increase support and help with feelings of isolation. It may be helpful to inform employers or school administrators of the diagnosis and request accommodations, such as time for naps or rest breaks. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers should make reasonable accommodations if possible.

Reaching out to a therapist, psychologist, or local support groups can be very helpful in developing coping strategies. Narcolepsy is generally treated with medication. Some medications are effective for sleepiness, some are effective for cataplexy, some are effective for other associated symptoms, and some are effective for multiple symptoms.