Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that disrupts the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, producing excessive daytime sleepiness and, in many people, sudden brief episodes of muscle weakness triggered by strong emotion. Many cases are linked to the loss of brain cells that produce a signaling chemical that normally helps sustain wakefulness. It typically begins in adolescence or young adulthood and persists for life.
Facts
Classification
ICD-10 ChapterVI: Diseases of the Nervous System 1 Communicable or Non-communicable Transmission Route Causative Agent
Causative Agent (category)Idiopathic / Multifactorial 3 First Described Connections
Associated With
Chronic sleep disorder of neurological origin; neurology specialty.
Treated By
Stimulants including methylphenidate are used to manage excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter VIQuote, List of chapters, Chapter VI
Diseases of the nervous system
2. Wikipedia: Non-communicable disease
WikipediaLead section, transmission-route statement (inferred from disease-category)
NCDs include Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and others.
Named examples section
NCDs include Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and others.
View the Source 3. Narcolepsy (Wikipedia)
- French term narcolepsy first used in 1880 by Gelineau
Introduction
Narcolepsy is a clinical syndrome of hypothalamic disorder, but the exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown, with potentially several causes.
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