Causes Of Narcolepsy
Health Encyclopedia: Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes uncontrollable sleepiness and frequent daytime sleeping.
Alternative Names
Daytime sleep disorder
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown. Studies using gene markers show that the disorder may be genetic. A small group of neurons in the brain has been implicated in producing transitions from sleep to wakefulness and vice-versa. People with narcolepsy may have fewer of these ...
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Expert & Community Posts
Living With Narcolepsy
By Florence Cardinal , Health ExpertNarcolepsy is characterized by recurrent attacks of sleepiness during the day. It is a... Read more »
Eating Disorders Linked to Narcolepsy
By Florence Cardinal , Health ExpertNarcolepsy is a disabling sleep disorder that causes extreme daytime sleepiness, sudden loss of... Read more »
Sleep Disorders in Animals
By Florence Cardinal , Health Expert...suffer from sleep disorders, and, in particular, narcolepsy. Researchers, led by Dr. Emmanuel... Read more »
It May Be in Your Genes
By Florence Cardinal , Health Expert...gene related. After nearly 40 years of research on narcolepsy, a Stanford-led team has... Read more »
Gene Variant Linked to Narcolepsy
By Jerry Kennard , Health Expert...one day help to explain the mechanism underlying narcolepsy. People with narcolepsy experience... Read more »
Health Guide
Narcolepsy: Prognosis
PrognosisNarcolepsy is a life-long problem but it is not progressive. Symptoms may even lessen over time but they never completely disappear. In a 2001 study comparing older adults (over 65 years... Read more »Narcolepsy: Causes
CausesNarcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder. It is not caused by mental illness or psychological problems. It is most likely the end result of a number of genetic abnormalities that affect... Read more »Narcolepsy: Diagnosis
Although narcolepsy is a physical disorder, doctors are still very likely to misdiagnose patients as having psychologic problems. It often takes a year or longer for a patient with... Read more »Isolated sleep paralysis
...sleep. It most often occurs when falling asleep or when awakening. Though it may be associated with narcolepsy, it occurs in many people who do not have narcolepsy. See narcolepsy. ... Read more »Narcolepsy: Risk Factors
Narcolepsy affects around 1 in 2,000 people. Experts estimate that around 135,000 200,000 Americans have narcolepsy, but the number may be higher. Only about 25% of people who have... Read more »Images
Medications
...Uses Modafinil decreases extreme sleepiness due to narcolepsy and other sleep disorders such as... Read more »
...This medication is also used to treat patients with narcolepsy (a disorder of sleep regulation).... Read more »
...also be used to treat certain sleeping disorders (narcolepsy). It should not be used to treat... Read more »
...also be used to treat certain sleeping disorders (narcolepsy) to help you stay awake during the... Read more »
...This medication is also used to treat patients with narcolepsy (a disorder of sleep regulation).... Read more »
Related News
Doctor: Dads need more sleep too
October 03, 2008A sleep researcher says that shift work, jet lag, and bad sleep habits create sleep problems for many men. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine... Read summary »
FDA issues warning for Provigil
October 03, 2008Provigil, a medication used to treat excessive sleepiness, may cause serious skin rashes and suicidal thoughts, according to a warning from the Food... Read summary »
Study links narcolepsy and eating disorders
October 03, 2008A small study has found that people with narcolepsy also often report a persistent craving for food and binge eating. Among the 60 patients with the... Read summary »
Study links narcolepsy and white blood cells
October 03, 2008In a small study, researchers have found that white blood cells of narcoleptics often have a different genetic structure than white blood cells in... Read summary »
Researchers find link between Parkinson's and narcolepsy
October 03, 2008Scientists say that people with Parkinson's disease and people with narcolepsy have severe damage to the same neurons. A doctor involved in the study... Read summary »
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