Chronic neurological disorder involving the body's central nervous system.
About one in 2,000 people suffers from narcolepsy.
For people with narcolepsy the messages sometimes arrive in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This is why someone who has narcolepsy, not managed by medications, may fall asleep while eating dinner or engaged in social activities.
Recent discoveries indicate that people with narcolepsy lack a chemical in the brain called hypocretin, which normally stimulates arousal and helps regulate sleep.
They also discovered that there is a reduction in the number of Hcrt cells or neurons that secrete hypocretin.
This may be due to a degenerative process or an immune response.
In addition to a medical history and physician examination, a diagnosis is made from polysomnogram tests in an overnight sleep laboratory to measure brain waves and body movements as well as nerve and muscle function.
A diagnosis also includes the results of the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), which measures the time it takes to fall asleep and to go into deep sleep while taking several naps over a period of time.
Changes in behavior combined with drug treatment have helped most persons with narcolepsy improve their alertness and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Drug treatment is only one element of narcolepsy symptom management.
Changes in behavior to encourage good nighttime sleep are important too.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the late afternoon or evening,
Exercise regularly.
Get enough nighttime sleep - eight hours nightly.
Some sleep specialists recommend several short daily naps along with drug treatment to help control excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks.
Others report that a single, long afternoon nap works well to improve a patient's alertness.
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