Narcolepsy is a disorder that disrupts sleep-wake processes. Its primary symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which occurs because ...NarcolepsyWhatitis,itscauses,andthestepsthatcanhelpmanageitHome/SleepDisorders/NarcolepsyUpdatedFebruary17,2021FactCheckedMedicallyReviewedbyDr.JohnDeBantoWrittenbyEricSuniGetthelatestinformationinsleepfromournewsletterYouremailaddresswillonlybeusedtoreceiveSleepFoundation.orgnewsletter.Furtherinformationcanbefoundinourprivacypolicy.Narcolepsyisasleepdisorderthatisoftenmisunderstood.Itischaracterizedbysevereandpersistentdaytimesleepinessthatcancauseimpairmentsinschool,work,andsocialsettingsaswellasheightentheriskofseriousaccidentsandinjuries.Althoughrareincomparisontomanyothersleepdisorders,narcolepsyaffectshundredsofthousandsofAmericans,includingbothchildrenandadults.Understandingthetypesofnarcolepsyandtheirsymptoms,causes,diagnosis,andtreatmentcanempowerpatientsandtheirlovedonestocopewithitmoreeffectively.WhatisNarcolepsy?RelatedReadingSleepDiaryLivingWithandManagingNon-24HourSleep-WakeDisorderNon-24HourSleep-WakeDisorderSymptoms&DiagnosisNarcolepsyisadisorderthatdisruptssleep-wakeprocesses.Itsprimarysymptomisexcessivedaytimesleepiness(EDS),whichoccursbecausethebrainisunabletoproperlyregulatewakefulnessandsleep.Normalsleepunfoldsthroughaseriesofstages,withrapideyemovement(REM)sleepoccurringinthefinalstage,usuallyanhourormoreafterfallingasleep.Innarcolepsy,REMsleepisirregularandoftenbeginswithinminutesafterfallingasleep,whichismuchearlierthannormal.REMoccursquicklyinpeoplewithnarcolepsybecauseofchangesinthebrainthatdisrupthowsleepworks.Thesedisruptionsalsocausedaytimesleepinessandothersymptomsofnarcolepsy.WhatAretheTypesofNarcolepsy?AccordingtotheInternationalClassificationofSleepDisorders,ThirdEdition(ICSD-3),therearetwotypesofnarcolepsy:narcolepsytype1(NT1)andtype2(NT2).NarcolepsyType1NT1isassociatedwiththesymptomofcataplexy,whichisthesuddenlossofmuscletone.NT1wasformerlyknownas“narcolepsywithcataplexy.”Notallpatientswhoa