Narcoleptic Syndrome
Health Encyclopedia: Narcolepsy Causes
- Narcolepsy - Causes
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Find out about Narcolepsy Risk Factors
- Prognosis
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
Causes
Narcolepsy 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 specific biologic factors in the brain, coupled with an environmental trigger such as a virus.
Researchers are attempting to come up with a unifying theory involving genetic factors, autoimmunity, and deficiencies in hypocretin, a brain peptide that is important in regulating sleep. Most of the research c...
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Expert & Community Posts
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 »
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 »
Sleep Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis
By Dr. Gross , Health Expert...Sleep Apnea (CSA) (apnea meaning breathing pause) and Narcolepsy. All of these can be operative... 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 »
Sleep Disorders in Animals
By Florence Cardinal , Health Expert...suffer from sleep disorders, and, in particular, narcolepsy. Researchers, led by Dr. Emmanuel... Read more »
Health Guide
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 »Narcolepsy: Highlights
Is Narcolepsy Hereditary?People whose close relatives have narcolepsy are more likely to have the sleep disorder themselves. The risk is highest for first-degree relatives (parents or... Read more »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: Resources
...Resourceswww.aasmnet.org -- American Academy of Sleep Medicinewww.sleepfoundation.org -- National Sleep Foundationwww.narcolepsynetwork.org -- Narcolepsy Networkwww.wfsrs.org -- World Federation... Read more »Narcolepsy: References
...efficacy and safety of armodafinil as treatment for adults with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006;22(4):761-774.Lemon MD, Strain JD, Farver DK. Sodium... 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
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 »
Narcoleptics have abnormal REM sleep patterns
October 03, 2008A recent study has found that people with narcolepsy do not experience a short phase of muscle paralysis that is part of a normal sleep pattern.... Read summary »
FDA gives tentative approval for Modafinil
October 03, 2008Caraco Pharmaceuticals has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Modafinil tablets. Modafinil is the generic... Read summary »
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