Narcolepsy News and Research

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Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia. The condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which a person experiences extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while at work or at school.

New review challenges the eight-hour ancestral sleep myth

Everyone knows the number. Eight hours. It sits on wellness dashboards, on pediatric handouts, on the label of the melatonin bottle in the medicine cabinet.

25 Aug 2026

Oral AD109 improves sleep apnea severity but tolerability remains a challenge

AD109, an investigational once-daily oral combination of aroxybutynin and atomoxetine, significantly improved airway obstruction and oxygenation in adults with mild-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who could not use PAP therapy. However, symptom improvements did not clearly differ from placebo, and about one in five AD109 recipients discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

21 May 2026

Scientists identify methylphenidate as an effective tool for combating chronic cancer-related fatigue

A new meta-analysis in the May 2026 issue of JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides updated evidence that methylphenidate-type psychostimulants-a class of medication that increases dopamine and norepinephrine availability in the brain-can provide meaningful relief for cancer-related fatigue.

14 May 2026

Degeneration in two brain regions causes severe narcolepsy symptoms

For nearly 25 years, scientists believed they knew what caused the most severe form of narcolepsy. A new UCLA Health study now suggests they were only half correct.

30 Apr 2026

ADHD prescriptions surged during the COVID-19 pandemic

A study reveals COVID-19 reshaped stimulant prescribing patterns in Ontario, highlighting increased ADHD diagnoses and concerns over treatment appropriateness.

11 Mar 2026

Her son’s injury never got its day in vaccine court. Their lawyer is now advising RFK on its overhaul.

In 2019, after a routine vaccination, 11-year-old Keithron Thomas felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and down his arm. His mother, Melanie Bostic, thought it would go away after a few days. But days turned to weeks, then months, and years.

29 Jan 2026

Wake-promoting drug improves alertness in early morning shift workers

Many more people work very early morning shifts than overnight ones, and a large proportion struggle with excessive sleepiness from shift work disorder, leading to problems with focus, performance and safety.

29 Jan 2026

How gut microbes shape sleep: New review reveals microbiome clues to insomnia and apnea

A new Brain Medicine review maps how gut microbes influence sleep disorders, from insomnia and sleep apnea to circadian disruption, via bile acids, neurotransmitters, and immune pathways. The findings highlight gut-driven targets for improving sleep quality through diet, probiotics, and microbiome modulation.

5 Nov 2025

New review illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation

A comprehensive review published today in Brain Medicine illuminates the intricate connections between gut microbiota and sleep regulation, establishing the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a critical pathway in understanding and potentially treating sleep disorders.

4 Nov 2025

Huawei smartwatch nearly matches gold-standard sleep test

A study reveals the HUAWEI WATCH GT2 smartwatch accurately tracks sleep stages, yet it falls short in diagnosing sleep disorders compared to PSG.

7 Oct 2025

Brain pulsations driving glymphatic function differ in narcolepsy patients and healthy individuals

A hormone produced by the brain, orexin, may play a central role in the functioning of the brain’s glymphatic system, which clears waste, according to a new study from the University of Oulu.

1 Sep 2025

New theory sheds light on why sleep cycles matter for memory

Although we know sleep is essential to our physical and mental well-being, it remains an incredibly enigmatic behavior, scientifically speaking.

24 Jun 2025

A revolutionary drug for extreme hunger offers clues to obesity’s complexity

Ali Foley Shenk still remembers the panic when her 10-year-old son, Dean, finished a 20-ounce box of raisins in the seconds the cupboard was left unlocked. They rushed to the emergency room, fearing a dangerous bowel impaction.

16 Jun 2025

Sleep disorders predict dementia risk years before diagnosis, study shows

Researchers analyzed health records from over 1 million people in Finland, Wales, and the UK to assess the long-term impact of sleep disorders on neurodegenerative diseases. They found that diagnosed sleep disorders can predict Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia risk up to 15 years before symptoms, regardless of genetic predisposition.

28 May 2025

How immune cells and neurons secretly shape brain health, behavior, and disease

Scientists explore how the immune and nervous systems constantly communicate, influencing brain diseases, behavior, and repair while shaping responses to environmental factors like sleep, diet, and pollution.

13 Feb 2025

New genetic risk factors for depression identified across global populations

New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity.

15 Jan 2025

AASM urges permanent telehealth coverage for improved sleep care

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has issued a new position statement advocating for permanent telehealth coverage, emphasizing its essential role in providing high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals with sleep disorders.

16 Dec 2024

Oral medication sodium oxybate shows promise for treating laryngeal dystonia

Laryngeal dystonia (LD), a rare neurological disease that significantly impacts a person's ability to speak due to uncontrollable vocal cord spasms, can have a debilitating effect on a person's social life, employment and mental health.

20 Nov 2024

Study reveals innovative treatment for narcolepsy-related nightmares

A new Northwestern Medicine study has demonstrated a new way to treat narcolepsy-related nightmares.

23 Oct 2024

Avadel Pharmaceuticals announces publication of RESTORE data highlighting challenges with twice-nightly oxybates and strong patient preference for once-nightly LUMRYZ™ dosing (sodium oxybate) extended-release oral suspension (CIII)

Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming medicines to transform lives, today announced the publication of final data from the RESTORE open-label/switch study, demonstrating that people with narcolepsy prefer once-at-bedtime LUMRYZ versus a twice-nightly immediate-release oxybate treatment option.

From Avadel Pharmaceuticals 4 Sep 2024