Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that results in excessive daytime sleepiness.

It may occur in conjunction with other symptoms such as:

• cataplexy
• sleep paralysis
• hallucinations

Narcolepsy is a rare condition that affects 1 in every 2,000 people. It affects both sexes and is usually first observed between the ages of 10 and 30.

Symptoms of narcolepsy

In people with narcolepsy, the part of the brain that controls falling asleep functions abnormally.

During the day while they are awake, they may fall asleep with minimal warning, often going straight into a stage of sleep called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

REM sleep is associated with dreaming and a loss of muscle tone, which is why people with narcolepsy sometimes experience hallucinations and cataplexy.

Diagnosing narcolepsy

If your sleep physician suspects narcolepsy, they may refer you for a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). You will have a normal overnight sleep study in a sleep laboratory and then stay the next day for a series of naps at two-hour intervals.

During each nap you will be encouraged to try to sleep and two parameters will be assessed:

• How long it takes you to fall asleep
• Whether you have REM sleep

Falling asleep quickly and having multiple episodes of REM sleep tend to indicate narcolepsy.

Treatments for narcolepsy

There is no cure for narcolepsy but symptoms can be controlled with medication.

Antidepressant medication can help with cataplexy and stimulants can alleviate symptoms of sleepiness. Planned napping can also help to lessen symptoms.