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Research Paper: Narcolepsy

Alexis Butterfield
EDU 2010
Salt Lake Community College

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Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by the brain's inability to

control sleep/wakefulness cycles. People with narcolepsy suffer from chronic daytime
sleepiness and episodes in which they fall asleep unexpectedly during the day. These
"sleep attacks" can occur at any time, during any activity. Sleep attacks are not limited to
periods of dull or low engagement activities, but can happen during school or work
hours, in the middle of a conversation, while eating, while exercising or playing sports,
or most dangerously, driving (Phillips; 2014).
According to Stanford Medicine Center for Narcolepsy (2001) the first convincing
descriptions of narcolepsy-cataplexy were reported in Germany by Westphal (1877);
and Fisher (1878). The unique association of episodes of muscle weakness triggered by
excitement and sleepiness were described in these two reports. In both cases,
hereditary factors were noted, with the mother of Westphals patient and one sister of
Fishers patient presenting narcolepsy symptoms. At the time, they refered to a man

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named Von Zastrow to explain narcolepsy. Von Zastrow was a recently arrested
pathological rapist widely believed to experience pathological sleepiness as a result of
repressed homosexuality and excessive masturbation.
There was an interesting fact in this article. Between the years of 1917 and 1927,
epidemic of encephalitis lethargica that lead to a new interest of sleep research and
narcolepsy. It also however, increased confusion at the time. Back then, anyone with
any form of daytime sleepiness was described to have narcolepsy.
Glineau (1880) is widely recognized for giving narcolepsy its name and for
recognizing the disorder as a specific clinical entity. Its description of a wine cask maker

with narcolepsy in la Gazette des hpitaux de Paris was classical but Glineau did not
strictly differentiate muscle weakness episodes and sleep attacks triggered by emotions.
Rather, Gelineau suggested a common physiology for these two symptoms. Lowenfeld
(1902), was the first to give a name to muscle weakness episodes triggered by emotions
or cataplexy.
Not every case of narcolepsy is accompanied by cataplexy but there are many
cases where they develop together. Cataplexy is defined as a medical condition in which
strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though
remaining conscious.

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Narcolepsy is not an age specific disease, anyone can develop narcolepsy at any
time. However an individual is more likely to develop narcolepsy in their younger years.
You are more likely to develop narcolepsy between 10 to 30 years of age, than any other
time in your life.
The cause of narcolepsy is not completely understood, but the National Institute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2015) states that there are several factors that
may contribute to the disorder. Most people with narcolepsy have low levels of the
neurotransmitter hypocretin, which promotes wakefulness. Most cases of narcolepsy are
occur in individuals with no known family history of narcolepsy. However, there have
been cases where individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy report having a
close relative with the same symptoms. In extremely rare cases, narcolepsy is caused
by a genetic defect that prevents normal production of hypocretin molecules. While
close relatives of people with narcolepsy have a statistically higher risk of developing the
disorder than do members of the general population, that risk remains low when
compared to diseases that are purely genetic in origin. (National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke; 2015). There have been rare cases that the disorder results from
traumatic injuries to parts of the brain involved in REM sleep or from tumor growth and
other diseases in the same regions.

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Even though there is no current cure for narcolepsy, if you can get a proper
diagnosis soon a and treatment plan, many of the symptoms can be treated. Narcolepsy
is a hard disorder to deal with unmedicated. There are several lifestyle and home
remedies recommended by the Alaska Sleep Clinic individuals with narcolepsy can
follow to help them in their daily life: Take several short naps a day (10-15 minutes) to
alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness; keep a consistent sleep schedule; go to sleep
and wake up at the same times everyday, including weekends; avoid caffeine and
alcoholic beverages 2-3 hours before bedtime as these substances can worsen
symptoms; get regular exercise. Daily exercise 4-5 hours before bedtime can help
improve quality of sleep as well as alleviate symptoms of daytime drowsiness.Try a
relaxing routine just before bedtime. A relaxing bath or reading a good book before
bedtime can help promote better sleep at night; and finally, talk to others about your
condition (Phillips; 2014).
Drug treatments are always recommended to those with narcolepsy. Many of the
treatments include stimulants, antidepressants, and sodium oxybate. Stimulants are
used to help the individual stay awake. Antidepressants are used to suppress REM
sleep, alleviate cataplexy and sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Tricyclic
antidepressants are used to treat cataplexy. Sodium oxybate is a sedative that
individuals with narcolepsy take at night (XYREM; 2015). It helps them get restful sleep

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even though they cannot sleep throughout the whole night, so most individuals have two
doses. One before bed, and one sometime during the night or early morning.
Families of those individuals with narcolepsy play an important role in the
treatment as well. It is extremely important to be supportive. The individual with
narcolepsy knows as much as you do about the disorder. Theres not a lot to know. Its
important to prepare yourself, learn what you can about narcolepsy. Also, do what you
can to help them. Expect grouchiness, and allow for sadness. Let them know that its
okay to nap. Theyll need it during the day for sure. Everyone around the individual is
effected by the disorder as well. You cant blame them for whats happening to them. It
could happen to anyone. In fact there are no known ethnic minorities over-represented
in the world of narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy does not restrict students from being in a regular class room or a full
time program. Many students are able to function in a general ed classroom with the
right medication and a nap during the day. In fact, my younger brother was diagnosed
with narcolepsy last year. He is still in elementary school and his teacher is extremely
accepting of his disorder. There were times when hed fall asleep during class but his
teacher would let him take a short nap and then wake him up. If that didnt happen, he
could also go to the nurses office and take a nap in that room. Narcolepsy hasnt
restricted him from doing anything. My whole family is very supportive of his disorder,

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but he can get down right mean if he hasnt had his nap. He yells at everyone except for
me. None of us know why hes decided to like me during his fits but I like it because it
gives me a chance to calm him down and get him to take his nap.

Narcolepsy has definitely changed my brothers life in the last year, but hes
learned to deal with it and accept it as a part of him. He takes his medicine where ever
we may travel for sports or anything else my family decides to do. Narcolepsy is a fairly
easy disorder to live with if you have the right treatments and have supportive friends
and family behind you.

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REFERENCES
Phillips, K. (2014, October 6). ASC: CPAP Machines, Sleep Studies, and Snoring
Solutions. Narcolepsy: Definition, Symptoms, & Treatment. Retrieved
November

2015, from http://www.alaskasleep.com/blog/narcolepsy-definition-

symptoms-

causes-treatment

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (2015). Narcolepsy

Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 2015, from
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/

narcolepsy/detail_narcolepsy.htm

HealthCentral.com - Trusted, Reliable and Up To Date Health Information. (2015).

Narcolepsy - HealthCentral Encyclopedia . Retrieved November 2015,
from

http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/hc/narcolepsy-3168769/

Westphal C. Eigenthmliche mit Einschlfen verbundene Anflle. (1877). Arch.

Psychiat., 7: 631-635.

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Fisher F. Epileptoide schlafzustnde. (1878). Arch. fr Psychiatl., 8: 200-203.
Glineau J. De la narcolepsie. (1880). Gazette des hpitaux,. 53: 626-628; Glineau
JBE. De la narcolepsie. (1881). Surgres, Charente-Infrieure: Imprimerie
de

Surgres, 64.

Lwenfeld L. Uber Narkolepsie. (1902). Munch. Med. Wochenschr., 49: 1041-1045.

Narcolepsy Network. (2015). FAQs Narcolepsy Network. Retrieved November 2015,
from http://narcolepsynetwork.org/about-narcolepsy/faq/#what-age
X. (2015). XYREM and Narcolepsy Treatment Information . XYREM and Narcolepsy
Treatment Information . Retrieved November 2015, from http://www.xyrem.com/?
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