Upper airway infections from strep or influenza may trigger narcolepsy.Genetically, most patients with type 1 narcolepsy and many patients with type 2 narcolepsy carry HLA-DQB1*06:02.The deficiency is thought to be a complex autoimmune process where the neurons that produce this protein are attacked by the immune system.Type 1 narcolepsy (narcolepsy with cataplexy), the most common form of the condition, is caused by a deficiency in the neurotransmitter hypocretin (orexin).Around 90% of patients with narcolepsy type 1 (narcolepsy with cataplexy) and half of patients with narcolepsy type 2 (narcolepsy without cataplexy) carry a specific genetic variation, called a haplotype, in an immune system gene (HLA-DQB1*06:02). Having a family member with narcolepsy presents a 20 to 40 times higher risk of developing the condition compared to the general population. It is estimated that around half of people with narcolepsy in the US are not diagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Narcolepsy affects about 26 to 79 out of 100,000 people. Narcolepsy type 2 is defined as narcolepsy without cataplexy. Lapsing into sleep occurs unintentionally, several times in the same day and several days a week.īesides EDS, people with narcolepsy type 1 also have cataplexy, which is a sudden but temporary muscle weakness, sometimes brought on by laughter or other emotions. EDS is perceived as periods of feeling an irrepressible need for sleep or being unable to stay awake during the day. The defining characteristic of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).

There are two types of narcolepsy, type 1 and type 2. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder.

Narcolepsy with cataplexy treatment