Mostly men of all ages are suffering from narcolepsy, a chronic disease is not rare, but still under-diagnosed, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, disabling the social perspective is associated with an increased risk of accidents.

Excessive daytime sleepiness was often the first symptom that is noticed and is manifested by decrease of energy, uncontrollable attacks of sleep and sometimes not forewarned, unusual susceptibility to falling.

Because people with narcolepsy have a hard time resisting the sleep - as is normal when an individual is deprived of the necessary amount of sleep - often happens that they fall asleep in less appropriate moments, such as during a conversation, while they are sitting in class while they are waiting for a bus or eating.

The causes of narcolepsy are not yet clear. The symptoms of these disorder is usually due to a dysregulation of certain mechanisms that control the transition between wakefulness, non-REM sleep and REM sleep. REM sleep is a particular stage characterized by rapid eye movements, muscle atonia and dreaming. Usually appears after at least 90-120 minutes of sleep, through cycles for 4-5 times in the night.

In narcoleptic subject, however, there is an unusual and rapid emergence of REM sleep, which appears very early during sleep (usually within 15-20 minutes of sleep). Addition, there may be intrusion of REM sleep during waking.

This phenomenon was therefore aware of falling asleep and daytime sudden cataplexy attacks typical of the disease. The basis for the disease, however, appear to have a biochemical defect of the central nervous system, consisting of the deficit or complete absence of a neurotransmitter called orexin / hypocretin, which is produced by certain nerve cells of the hypothalamus.

It is suspected that the disease or, rather, the predisposition to develop it may be a hereditary characteristic, transmitted from parents to children or grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
Its also possible that narcolepsy to appear after a brain injury and during other diseases of the central nervous system.

The symptoms are generally absent or poorly recognized before 10 years, with a peak between 15 and In terms of therapy - there are no cures or treatments currently inconclusive, but it is possible to use pharmacological pathways that reduce or prevent disability caused by excessive sleepiness and other symptoms. Drug therapy employs the use of substances psycho-stimulants to combat and reduce daytime sleepiness.

The drug of first choice is represented by modafinil. Some antidepressants such as imipramine, paroxetine and venlafaxine are effective to control the disorder cataplectic exploiting their inhibitory effect on REM sleep.
The behavioral approach is instead carrying 3-4 "naps" strategic, planned earlier, for example, to take up social work or this may be of considerable help to patients, as well as regularity in the hours of sleep at night.
Very important are the habits of life: alcohol and certain foods (mainly carbohydrates) may worsen the drowsiness.

As regards the current state of research are in great development studies of genetics, biochemistry and those neuroreceptor those trying to understand the causes of narcolepsy, and surveys conducted to identify those that might be precipitating factors narcolepsy in people genetically predisposed, such as viral or bacterial agents, stress, hormones.

Who suspected of suffering from this disease should therefore consult a psychiatrist or, even better, to centers specializing in the study of sleep disorders.