

Pharmacological aspects of human and canine narcolepsy. Pattern of hypocretin (orexin) soma and axon loss, and gliosis, in human narcolepsy. Thannickal, T.C., Siegel, J.M., Nienhuis, R. Reduced number of hypocretin neurons in human narcolepsy. Orexins and orexin receptors: a family of hypothalamic neuropeptides and G protein-coupled receptors that regulate feeding behavior. A mutation in a case of early onset narcolepsy and a generalized absence of hypocretin peptides in human narcoleptic brains. The hypocretins: hypothalamus-specific peptides with neuroexcitatory activity. We also discuss the implications of these recent findings for current models of cataplexy. We report recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) results showing that humorous pictures elicit reduced hypothalamic response together with enhanced amygdala response in NC patients. We show that this hypothesis can be successfully tested using modern functional brain imaging techniques in NC patients. In this chapter, we present evidence suggesting that the Hcrt system may play a key modulating role in hypothalamic-limbic circuits that are involved in the integration of emotion, reward, and sleep processes. Emotion-triggered cataplexy could thus represent an affective consequence of Hcrt deficiency in human NC. Recent animal data suggest that the hypocretin (Hcrt also called orexin) system, which is deficient in NC patients, is involved not only in the regulation of sleep–wake states but also in emotional and reward processes.

While muscle atonia associated with cataplexy is thought to implicate ponto-medullary mechanisms, the suprapontine brain mechanisms associated with the cataplectic effects of emotions in human NC remain essentially unknown. You should try to maintain a structured sleep schedule, which can include napping during the day if required.In narcolepsy–cataplexy (NC) patients, cataplexy attacks (sudden loss of muscle tone) are most often triggered by strong emotional experiences, in particular positive emotions such as laughter or joking. Currently there is no cure for Narcolepsy, but the symptoms of narcolepsy are controllable with medication.These tests help doctors rule out signs and symptoms that could be linked to similar other sleep disorders. The following are used in determining a diagnosis of narcolepsy:
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This testing often takes place overnight at a sleep clinic, under the watch of professional medical staff. If symptoms of narcolepsy are visible, provide evidence & ask your doctor to refer you for further testing with a specialist. Source: US National Institute of Health: NHLBI Heredity/Genes create a disposition towards developing narcolepsy, rather than causing the disorder itself. " Toxins may include heavy metals, pesticides and weed killers, and secondhand smoke." Some research suggests that environmental toxins may also trigger narcolepsy. It is thought that a combination of the following factors cause low levels of hypocretin: What causes low hypocretin levels isn't well understood. This is a chemical in the brain that helps promote wakefulness. Most people who have narcolepsy have low levels of hypocretin. Narcoleptics suffer from the inability to remain awake during the day and to stay asleep through the night. The name is from the ancient Greek narco- ( to put to sleep) & -lepsis ( to have a seizure).
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Sleep Study or Polysomnogram, What to Expect & How to Prepare Your question may have already been answered. Please read the following posts before asking questions.Great user posts/responses are going to be posted here from now until the wiki is up and running.New to Narcolepsy? Please read our Wiki page! Subreddit Links
