Narcolepsy is a rare long-term brain condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep at inappropriate times. The brain is unable to regulate sleeping and ...SkiptomaincontentHomeHealthAtoZBacktoHealthAtoZOverview-NarcolepsyContentsOverviewSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentNarcolepsyisararelong-termbrainconditionthatcauses apersontosuddenlyfallasleepatinappropriatetimes.Thebrainisunabletoregulatesleepingandwakingpatternsnormally,whichcanresultin:excessivedaytimesleepiness – feelingverydrowsythroughoutthedayandfindingitdifficulttoconcentrateandstayawakesleepattacks– fallingasleepsuddenlyandwithoutwarningcataplexy– temporarylossofmusclecontrolresultinginweaknessandpossiblecollapse,often inresponsetoemotionssuchaslaughterandangersleepparalysis – atemporaryinabilitytomoveorspeakwhenwakinguporfallingasleepexcessivedreamingandwakinginthenight–dreamsoftencomeasyoufallasleep(hypnogogic hallucinations)orjustbeforeorduringwaking(hypnopompichallucinations)Narcolepsydoesnotcauseseriousorlong-termphysicalhealthproblems,butit canhaveasignificantimpactondailylifeandbedifficulttocopewithemotionally.Findoutmoreaboutthesymptomsofnarcolepsy.WhatcausesnarcolepsyNarcolepsyisoftencausedbyalackof thebrainchemicalhypocretin (alsoknownasorexin),whichregulateswakefulness.Thelackof hypocretinisthoughttobecausedbytheimmunesystemmistakenlyattackingthecellsthatproduceitorthereceptorsthatallowittowork.Butthisdoesnotexplainallcasesofnarcolepsy,andtheexactcauseoftheproblemisoftenunclear.Thingsthathavebeensuggestedaspossible triggersofnarcolepsyinclude:hormonalchanges,whichcanoccurduringpuberty orthemenopausemajorpsychologicalstressaninfection,suchas swineflu, orthemedicineusedtovaccinateagainstit(Pandemrix)Findoutmoreaboutthecausesofnarcolepsy.Who'saffectedNarcolepsyisafairlyrarecondition.It'sdifficulttoknowexactlyhowmanypeoplehavenarcolepsybecausemanycasesarethoughttogounreported.Butit'sestimatedtoaffectabout30,000peopleintheUK.Menandwomenarethoughttobeaffectedequallybynarcolepsy,althoughsomes