Is narcolepsy a spectrum?
Furthermore, it is possible to encounter patients with EDS and polysomnographic evidence of narcolepsy but no clinical evidence of cataplexy, HH, or SP. They constitute what is recognized as the narcoleptic spectrum. As a group, these patients are less symptomatic than patients affected by the narcoleptic tetrad.
Is narcolepsy a disease?
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout much of the day.
Can narcolepsy develop later in life?
Narcolepsy Symptoms Can Appear at Any Age Many people with narcolepsy report having symptoms starting between ages 10 and 20, but it can develop as late as age 40 to 50.
Does coffee help with narcolepsy?
Consider your caffeine use. Some people with narcolepsy find coffee or other caffeinated beverages helpful to staying awake. For others, coffee is ineffective, or, in combination with stimulant medications, it can cause jitteriness, diarrhea, anxiety, or a racing heart.
Is narcolepsy a clinical diagnosis?
Narcolepsy can be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric disorder or even epilepsy. An appropriate clinical history, polysomnogram, Multiple Sleep Latency Test, and, at times, cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin levels are necessary for diagnosis.
Can narcolepsy be cured?
There’s no specific cure for narcolepsy, but you can manage the symptoms and minimise their impact on your daily life. Making some simple changes to your sleeping habits can sometimes help. If your symptoms are more severe, you’ll usually need to take medicine.
What happens in the brain during narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy develops as a result of changes in the hypothalamus region of your brain. This small gland is located above your brain stem. The hypothalamus helps regulate the release of hormones that affect numerous parts of your body. For example, it’s responsible for releasing hypocretins, which help regulate sleep.
How many hours of sleep do narcolepsy need?
These 24-hour sleep recordings of two individuals—one with a normal sleep pattern (top) and one with untreated narcolepsy—clearly demonstrate the disrupted nature of sleep and wakefulness in narcolepsy….Sleep basics.
| People with narcolepsy | People without narcolepsy |
|---|---|
| Spontaneously wake from sleep | Generally sleep well |
Is cataplexy a seizure?
Cataplexy is often mistaken for a seizure when it’s more severe. But unlike a seizure, you will likely remain conscious and remember everything that happens during an episode. Cataplectic episodes also vary in length. They may last only a few seconds or go on for up to a few minutes.