What Is The Main Cause Of Narcolepsy?

What causes narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is often caused by

a lack of the brain chemical hypocretin (also known as orexin)

, which regulates wakefulness. The lack of hypocretin is thought to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the cells that produce it or the receptors that allow it to work.

What are 2 triggers for narcolepsy?

Interference with intimate relationships

. Intense feelings, such as anger or joy, can trigger signs of narcolepsy such as cataplexy, causing affected people to withdraw from emotional interactions. Physical harm. Sleep attacks may result in physical harm to people with narcolepsy.

Does narcolepsy worsen with age?

Narcolepsy is a lifelong problem, but

it does not usually worsen as the person ages

. Symptoms can partially improve over time, but they will never disappear completely. The most typical symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.

What is the root cause of 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.

What happens if narcolepsy goes untreated?

When left untreated,

narcolepsy can be socially disabling and isolating

. It often leads to the onset of depression. Type 2 diabetes mellitus may occur more often in people with narcolepsy. Making lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms.

Is narcolepsy a mental illness?

However, narcolepsy is frequently

misdiagnosed initially as a psychiatric condition

, contributing to the protracted time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. Narcolepsy is a disabling neurodegenerative condition that carries a high risk for development of social and occupational dysfunction.

Is narcolepsy considered a disability?

Narcolepsy isn’t one of the conditions the SSA considers a disability

. But if your symptoms interfere with your ability to do your job, you may still qualify for benefits. The Disability Benefits Help website offers a free evaluation to help you determine whether your condition is considered a disability.

How do you test positive for narcolepsy?

The diagnosis of narcolepsy is usually supported by test results from

a polysomnogram and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

. A polysomnogram helps your physician assess brain activity during sleep, in particular, how frequently and when REM activity is occurring.

How do you fix narcolepsy?

1. Stimulants. …
2. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). …
3. Tricyclic antidepressants. …
4. Sodium oxybate (Xyrem).

How many hours of sleep do narcolepsy need?

In addition to any of the typical narcolepsy symptoms, people with secondary narcolepsy also have severe neurological problems and require large amounts

(>10 hours)

of sleep. To understand the symptoms of narcolepsy, it helps to first understand how sleep happens normally.

Does caffeine help narcolepsy?

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that

a small dose of caffeine has positive effects on alertness in patients with narcolepsy

. However, larger trials are required to confirm these findings.

Is narcolepsy a symptom of depression?

People with narcolepsy often have another accompanying mental health problem called

depression

! Narcolepsy impacts REM sleep and creates havoc on a person’s normal sleeping patterns, thus leading to other mental health issues that include depression.

Does narcolepsy lead to dementia?

Mignot, whose research is funded in part by Wake Up Narcolepsy, discusses Autosomal Dominant Cerebellar Ataxia, Deafness and Narcolepsy, or ADCA-DN. This terrible disease is characterized by narcolepsy

evolving into neuropsychiatric problems and dementia

.

Are people with narcolepsy smart?

However, no study has previously investigated whether intelligence plays the same role in narcolepsy patients. Nevertheless, one study found that narcolepsy patients with a high IQ exhibited significant cognitive impairment, which suggests that intelligence and cognitive impairment

are independent

.

What drugs can cause narcolepsy?

• Steroids, including prednisone.
• Diet pills.
• Drugs that treat high blood pressure, like beta blockers.
• Hormones, such as oral contraceptives.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stimulant medications.
• Some antidepressants.

Why do narcoleptics gain weight?

When you have narcolepsy, your body burns calories more slowly. Some researchers have suggested that

daytime sleepiness makes people less active

, and so more likely to gain weight.