Demographics: There has been debate over the incidence of narcolepsy. It is thought to affect between one in every 1,000 to 2,000 Americans. The known prevalence in other countries varies, from one in 600 in Japan to one in 500,000 in Israel. The reasons for these demographic differences are not clear. In about 8–12% of cases, people diagnosed with narcolepsy know of other family members with similar symptoms.
Symptoms: While the symptoms of narcolepsy usually appear during a person's late teens or early 20s, the disease may not be diagnosed for many years. Most often, the first symptom is an overwhelming feeling of fatigue. After several months or years, cataplexy and other symptoms of the disorder appear. Cataplexy is the most dramatic symptom of narcolepsy, affecting 75% of people with the disorder. During attacks, the knees buckle and the neck muscles go slack. In extreme cases, the person may become paralyzed and fall to the floor. This loss of muscle tone is temporary, lasting from a few seconds to half an hour, but it is frightening. The attacks can occur at any time but are often triggered by such strong emotions as anger, joy, or surprise.
Causes: Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system which in most patients is caused by a loss of about 10,000 to 20,000 of the many billions of neurons in the brain. The neurons are located in a tiny region of the brain (the hypothalamus) and they produce a chemical called orexin (also called hypocretin) that is involved in sleep/wake regulation. It is believed that narcolepsy has both a genetic component and an autoimmune component. People are not born with narcolepsy. The symptoms usually appear out of the blue, but more rarely after a mild infection, or after traumatic brain injury or even concussion. In most cases, the symptoms of narcolepsy begin in the mid-teenage years.
Treatment: We don’t know how to cure narcolepsy, but we are able to control many of the distressing symptoms. In most cases it is best that patients be diagnosed by someone very familiar with this disease — most often a board-certified sleep specialist or a neurologist.
Symptoms: While the symptoms of narcolepsy usually appear during a person's late teens or early 20s, the disease may not be diagnosed for many years. Most often, the first symptom is an overwhelming feeling of fatigue. After several months or years, cataplexy and other symptoms of the disorder appear. Cataplexy is the most dramatic symptom of narcolepsy, affecting 75% of people with the disorder. During attacks, the knees buckle and the neck muscles go slack. In extreme cases, the person may become paralyzed and fall to the floor. This loss of muscle tone is temporary, lasting from a few seconds to half an hour, but it is frightening. The attacks can occur at any time but are often triggered by such strong emotions as anger, joy, or surprise.
Causes: Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system which in most patients is caused by a loss of about 10,000 to 20,000 of the many billions of neurons in the brain. The neurons are located in a tiny region of the brain (the hypothalamus) and they produce a chemical called orexin (also called hypocretin) that is involved in sleep/wake regulation. It is believed that narcolepsy has both a genetic component and an autoimmune component. People are not born with narcolepsy. The symptoms usually appear out of the blue, but more rarely after a mild infection, or after traumatic brain injury or even concussion. In most cases, the symptoms of narcolepsy begin in the mid-teenage years.
Treatment: We don’t know how to cure narcolepsy, but we are able to control many of the distressing symptoms. In most cases it is best that patients be diagnosed by someone very familiar with this disease — most often a board-certified sleep specialist or a neurologist.