Exciting Findings about Narcolepsy

One might feel cacoethes for slumber and nap times, however possibly not to that extent to want narcolepsy, a sleep disorder which is tricky to manage. Several individuals fail to comprehend that narcolepsy is not merely about dozing off at any time of the day. Nearly 3/4ths of people suffering from narcolepsy are susceptible to emotional responses which elicit their bodies into undergoing muscular paralysis. One could only envisage feeling contentedly thrilled or on the other hand, abruptly petrified, and suddenly experiencing your body freezing up against one’s wishes leading to total immobility.

Envisage this heart-shattering, excruciating disorder arising uninhibitedly from within oneself or the immune system.

Since long it has been believed that narcolepsy is an autoimmune condition wherein a person’s own immune system starts malfunctioning and instead of attacking trespassers and germs, it targets the body and starts assaulting particular cells. Though it has not been positively corroborated, there is a greater proof indicating that a backfiring immune system is without a doubt the reason for narcolepsy arising.

Swiss scientists from the Univ. of Lausanne have lately discovered auto antibodies which attack an innate protein known as Trib2 among narcoleptics experiencing paralytic attacks associated with emotion. Auto antibodies are immune particles which function by targeting an innate protein present in the body instead of protein from a communicable source. The research evidently indicates that narcolepsy could be an autoimmune disorder. Usually, the immune system is capable of telling apart its own and foreign attackers and solely assaults tissues which it comprehends as alien or not-self. However, in the case of narcolepsy, it appears that a rebellion of sorts is occurring within the body.

Since it is an autoimmune condition, it only poses a greater challenge to cure and manage. So, what are the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy?

• A narcoleptic would experience EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness) which would continually interfere with day-to-day functioning and tasks, despite the person having adequate night time slumber. EDS sufferers cite feeling mentally clouded, sapped energy levels, lack of focus, memory slips, depressive tendencies and at times intense weariness.
• An abrupt muscle tenor loss which causes weakness and lost conscious muscular control. Such a symptom is termed as cataplexy and could lead to wide-ranging symptoms like slurry speech and even complete body collapsing based on which muscle sets are affected and mostly elicited by strong emotions. For instance feeling surprised, laughing or being angry.
• Generally a narcoleptic would experience delusions which are dramatic, often scary and its contents essentially ocular however there could also be other senses at play. They are known as hypnagogic hallucinations in case they accompany slumber inception. When these occur when one awakens, they are known as hypnopompic hallucinations.
• A narcoleptic could experience sleep paralysis wherein transitory incapability of moving or speaking when asleep or awakening occurs. Such occurrences are usually short-lasting for some seconds to minutes long. Subsequent to such occurrences, a narcoleptic would swiftly show recovery to normal speech and movement.
• Automatic behaviour has been observed among narcoleptics where they do regular or tedious chores about which they have no recollection later on.

Regrettably, there is no cure for narcolepsy. For narcoleptics, napping is particularly vital and could in fact substitute a dose of stimulant drug. Generally, an autoimmune disorder is trickier to treat. However, the positive aspect about this recent research is that it has offered greater understanding about this rather unusual and baffling condition. Moreover, in case narcolepsy could be substantiated as an autoimmune condition then it could be examined in greater depth for locating a treatment or possibly identifying an abler means of treating and managing it.