Modafinil and armodafinil are usually the first stimulants prescribed, as they tend to be effective and are not usually addictive. These drugs stimulate the central nervous system to promote wakefulness during the day. This is because inheriting certain genes can make you more susceptible to NT1 narcolepsy. If someone in your family has narcolepsy, you are more likely to develop the condition yourself. Some common viruses, including influenza (the flu), are also associated with narcolepsy. Exposure to neurotoxins in construction sites, agriculture, metalworking, and other fields of work could trigger an autoimmune response in the brain. Other conditions that could cause damage or trigger an immune response include: A traumatic head injury could impact the hypocretin-producing regions of the brain or other structures involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. While narcolepsy can affect people at any age, you are most likely to develop symptoms during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood (around age 10–30). Often, though, the exact cause of narcolepsy type 2 is unknown.Ī risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing a certain condition. Other brain conditions or infections may also cause NT2. In these patients, brain trauma that affects the brain regions in charge of sleep may cause narcolepsy. Most narcolepsy type 2 (NT2) patients do not have a hypocretin deficiency. However, if you have a family history of narcolepsy, your risk of developing the condition is only around 1%.Įnvironmental factors, including the influenza virus and other viral infections, may also play a role in NT1.įinally, head injuries or brain infections that damage the hypocretin neurons may also cause NT1. Most people with NT1 inherited a gene variation associated with immune function, meaning that this type of narcolepsy is genetic. Experts suspect that the neurons are lost because of an autoimmune reaction, which is when the body’s defense system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. These brain cells produce the sleep chemical hypocretin.
Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is caused by the loss of hypocretin neurons. You may be completely conscious, but have no control over your body. This is a temporary inability to move or speak after waking up or as you fall asleep. Since you are not fully asleep, these hallucinations may feel like reality. For instance, you might hear someone screaming in your ear, feel like there are bugs nearby, or see a stranger standing in your room. These are vivid, often scary dreams or sensations that happen while you fall asleep (hypnagogic hallucinations) or waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations). EDS is often the first and most troublesome symptom of narcolepsy. You may even fall asleep without warning during activities. You may also experience a “sleep attack,” or a sudden and intense urge to sleep at inappropriate times during the day. EDS is characterized by persistent sleepiness or struggling to stay awake, regardless of how much nighttime sleep you get. You may also develop other sleep disorders, like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. You may wake up multiple times during the night. The frequency of attacks can vary widely, from just a few episodes a year to multiple episodes a day. Cataplexy is associated with narcolepsy type 1. For instance, your knees may buckle when you’re having a good laugh or a hard cry. It can range from slight weakness to total collapse. This is when you have a sudden loss of muscle control, usually during an emotional reaction (positive or negative). If you have narcolepsy, you may perform routine behaviors without conscious awareness of them, and you may have no memory of performing the activity at all.
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