When Sleeps Takes Over: Exploring Narcolepsy As A Root Cause Of Excessive Day Time Sleepiness

Abstract

Narcolepsy is a complex sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. It’s caused by a deficiency in a neurotransmitter called hypocretin, which regulates wakefulness. Narcolepsy also includes symptoms like cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations. The root cause is the loss or dysfunction of hypocretin-producing neurons in the brain. Despite being misunderstood, recognizing the symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness is crucial for identifying narcolepsy. It can take years to get an accurate diagnosis and effective management. Researchers have found that narcolepsy involves an autoimmune response, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the brain cells that produce hypocretin. This autoimmune response is strongly associated with certain genetic markers, like the hla-dqb1*06:02 allele. It’s believed that this genetic predisposition triggers the immune system to attack hypocretin-producing cells.