Since people with narcolepsy are often misdiagnosed with other conditions, such as psychiatric disorders or emotional problems, it can take years for someone to get the proper diagnosis. However, since this condition often goes undiagnosed, the number may be higher. It is estimated that anywhere from 135,000 to 200,000 people in the United States have narcolepsy. Symptoms often start in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood (ages 7 to 25), but can occur at any time in life. Narcolepsy affects both males and females equally. If left undiagnosed or untreated, narcolepsy can interfere with psychological, social, and cognitive function and development and can inhibit academic, work, and social activities.
This helps explain some symptoms of narcolepsy. Also, the muscle weakness or dream activity of REM sleep can occur during wakefulness or be absent during sleep. People with narcolepsy frequently enter REM sleep rapidly, within 15 minutes of falling asleep. Dreams occur during REM sleep, and the brain keeps muscles limp during this sleep stage, which prevents people from acting out their dreams.
In a normal sleep cycle, a person enters rapid eye movement (REM) sleep after about 60 to 90 minutes. Other symptoms may include sudden muscle weakness while awake that makes a person go limp or unable to move (cataplexy), vivid dream-like images or hallucinations, and total paralysis just before falling asleep or just after waking up (sleep paralysis). People may unwillingly fall asleep even if they are in the middle of an activity like driving, eating, or talking. Narcolepsy can greatly affect daily activities. Many individuals with narcolepsy also experience uneven and interrupted sleep that can involve waking up frequently during the night. People with narcolepsy may feel rested after waking, but then feel very sleepy throughout much of the day. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles.
What is the state of the science involving narcolepsy? What behavioral strategies help people cope with symptoms?
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