What infections cause narcolepsy?
The cause of narcolepsy is often an infection that “tricks” the immune system into destroying the cells that produce hypocretin by mistaking those cells for attacking bacteria or viruses. The infection might be nothing more than a sore throat or flu-like infection.
What type of disease is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep.
Is narcolepsy a disease?
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain’s inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep.
What are the two types of narcolepsy?
There are two major types of narcolepsy:
- Type 1 narcolepsy (previously termed narcolepsy with cataplexy).
- Type 2 narcolepsy (previously termed narcolepsy without cataplexy).
How does someone get narcolepsy?
Many cases of narcolepsy are thought to be caused by a lack of a brain chemical called hypocretin (also known as orexin), which regulates sleep. The deficiency is thought to be the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking parts of the brain that produce hypocretin.
Is Adderall used for narcolepsy?
Prescription medications like Adderall are commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, but in recent years, doctors have been criticized for overprescribing and abuse rates have skyrocketed.
Is narcolepsy a mental illness?
However, narcolepsy is frequently misdiagnosed initially as a psychiatric condition, contributing to the protracted time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. Narcolepsy is a disabling neurodegenerative condition that carries a high risk for development of social and occupational dysfunction.
Can narcolepsy be cured?
There is no cure for narcolepsy, but medications and lifestyle modifications can help you manage the symptoms.
Are narcolepsy and ADHD related?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. However, despite their differences, both narcolepsy and ADHD share the symptoms of sleep disturbance and excessive daytime sleepiness. Recent studies have suggested a link between the two disorders.
Can you be bipolar and have narcolepsy?
Clinicians have reported cases of narcolepsy with prominent hypnagogic hallucinations that were mistakenly diagnosed as schizophrenia. In some bipolar disorder patients with narcolepsy, the HH resulted in their receiving a more severe diagnosis (ie, bipolar disorder with psychotic features or schizoaffective disorder).
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