1. Narcolepsy
Introduction: Narcolepsy is a rare sleeping disorder it is also known as
dyssomnia.
Narcolepsy involves a person that experiences uncontrollable stages of REM
sleep at anytime usually during the day. The person usually experiences
narcolepsy if they they are nocturnal of have and unusual daytime sleeping
pattern. There can be cures to narcolepsy, a series of medication or large
lifestyle changes can help cure the problem.
2. Key points
Scientists believe that narcolepsy is linked to a gene deficiency chromosome
6.
People with the disease suffer from 10 minute stages of uncontrollable REM
sleep, whereas people with a ‘normal’ sleeping pattern spend about 90
minutes in the stage of REM sleep.
People with narcolepsy often suffer from cataplexy, it is a sudden muscle
weakness, brought on by strong emotions.
Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder. It is not caused by mental illness
or psychological problems.
3. Scientific background
Scientist's have formed theory that narcolepsy is not based on a persons
mental state or psychological problems, the have reason to believe that
narcolepsy is cause by a series of deformities in a few gene that affect certain
biological parts of the brain
4. Studies and tests
Scientists are conducting test on animals using them as models to try out
theories behind the cause of narcolepsy development. These tests will result
in a greater understanding of the complex genetic basis of a narcolepsy and
will eventually lead to the formation of new therapies to control symptoms and
may lead to a cure.
