Narcolepsy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Narcolepsy - Essay Example It is seen that narcolepsy originates in individuals who have a high number of DR-2 haplotype antigens which target the leukocytes. The cause of this high number remains unknown however it has been suggested that narcolepsy is an inherited feature. The DR-2 antigen is not a clinical feature for the diagnosis of narcolepsy as it may also be found in normal individuals hence the tests of DR-2 antigens is not suggested for these patients. A more recent research shows that a neurotransmitter known as hypocretin is deficient in the patients suffering from narcolepsy. Hypocretin is secreted from the lateral neurons located in the hypothalamus and it is seen that around 75% of the patients suffering from narcolepsy do not have appropriate amounts of hypocretin in their cerebrospinal fluid. Narcolepsy is related to both kinds of sleep as it affects them both simultaneously. The start and end point of both REM and NREM sleep are disturbed in narcoleptics which leads to frequent disturbances w hen they sleep. In other words these narcoleptics tend to awake frequently because of these impairments (Peacock & Benca 2010; Feldman 2003). The most frequent symptoms of narcolepsy in patients are related to excessive daytime sleeping in which individuals tend to sleep at unusual instances of eating and driving. This is the most obvious symptom in patients suffering from narcolepsy. Narcoleptics also show the symptom of cataplexy in which the muscle tone of the narcoleptics is reduced at certain instances. This muscle tone is a reversible process but this is the first clinical feature suffered by the narcoleptics. Sleep paralysis is also suffered by these patients frequently as they are unable to move during the beginning or the ending of the sleep. They also exhibit automatic behaviors and hallucinations in their normal routine which can be frightful for these patients (Feldman 2003). Narcolepsy can be diagnosed with