What is narcolepsy characterized by?

What is narcolepsy characterized by?

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep.

What do narcolepsy patients lack?

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.

Is narcolepsy the same as sleep paralysis?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is the cardinal symptom of narcolepsy and often the most disabling. Sleep paralysis is the disturbing, temporary inability to move voluntary muscles or speak during sleep-wake transitions. It is often accompanied by hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations.

What are the two types of narcolepsy?

There are two major types of narcolepsy:

  • Type 1 narcolepsy (previously termed narcolepsy with cataplexy).
  • Type 2 narcolepsy (previously termed narcolepsy without cataplexy).

What gene is responsible for narcolepsy?

The HLA-DQB1 gene has many different normal variations, allowing each person’s immune system to react to a wide range of foreign proteins. A variation of the HLA-DQB1 gene called HLA-DQB1*06:02 has been strongly associated with narcolepsy, particularly in people who also have cataplexy and a loss of hypocretins.

How often do narcoleptics have sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis occurs in about one fourth of people with narcolepsy. It sometimes occurs in healthy children and, less often, in healthy adults.

What does Mslt stand for?

multiple sleep latency test
In the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), a person is given 4-5 opportunities to sleep every two hours during normal wake times. The specialist uses the test to measure the extent of daytime sleepiness (how fast the patient falls asleep in each nap, also called sleep latency), and also how quickly REM sleep begins.

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