Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a clinical syndrome of daytime sleepiness with cataplexy (muscle weakness precipitated by intense emotion), hypnagogic hallucinations (hallucinations when falling asleep) and sleep paralysis.
Those with narcolepsy have excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep duration overnight. This sleepiness if often typified by an inability to stay awake during idle situations and an irresistible urge to nap.
Worldwide, narcolepsy affects about 4 people per 10,000. Both men and women can get narcolepsy and most commonly develops in the second decade of life.Narcolepsy is diagnosed on a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) which follows an overnight sleep study. During the MSLT, every two hours after waking, the person undergoing the test is asked to return to bed for 20 minutes and try to fall asleep. This is repeated 4-5 times during the day every 2 hours. The time taken to fall asleep and whether REM sleep occurs are recorded.
Unfortunately, at present, there is no cure for narcolepsy, although symptoms may be controlled with medications. Wake-promoting medications are used to manage excessive sleepiness whilst certain antidepressants can be used to control other symptoms of cataplexy and hallucinations.
