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.

MIT neuroscientists find a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice

People with autism often experience hypersensitivity to noise and other sensory input. MIT neuroscientists have now identified two brain circuits that help tune out distracting sensory information, and they have found a way to reverse noise hypersensitivity in mice by boosting the activity of those circuits.

23 Oct 2019

Alzheimer's disease attacks brain regions responsible for wakefulness

Researchers and caregivers have noted that excessive daytime napping can develop long before the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease begin to unfold.

13 Aug 2019

California bill would fight deals that delay generic drugs

California's attorney general touted a legal victory this week against drugmakers who he said made secretive, backroom deals to keep less expensive drugs off the market.

1 Aug 2019

Study offers new evidence that narcolepsy is an autoimmune condition

In a study of narcolepsy patients, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made an important discovery that could help pave the way for improved treatment of the chronic condition.

18 Mar 2019

Scientists find new proof that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered autoreactive cells in persons suffering from narcolepsy.

15 Mar 2019

Loyola expert recommends powering down smart phones to get a good night's sleep

To get a good night's sleep, turn off your smartphone at least 30 minutes before going to bed, says Loyola Medicine sleep specialist Sunita Kumar, MD, in recognition of Sleep Awareness Week, March 11 – 17.

11 Mar 2019

Regular use of party drug GHB associated with brain changes

Scientists have discovered that regular use of the party drug GHB, and especially unconsciousness following GHB use, is associated with brain changes including negative effects on long-term memory, working memory, IQ, and higher levels of stress and anxiety.

8 Oct 2018

Child sleep disorders on the rise due to social media and obesity

More and more children in England are being diagnosed with sleep problems, including nightmares, sleepwalking, and insomnia.

1 Oct 2018

Common ADHD drug may cause adverse psychotic side effects

In the scientific article recently published in Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erica Ramstad and others reviewed the existing evidence between various psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, problems with concentration or anxiety with methylphenidate, a drug commonly prescribed as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.

22 Aug 2018

Seven activities that prevent you from getting quality sleep during summer

Summer is the season of barbeque, beach trips, and some of the simplest joys of life, but if you're not careful, it can also be the lone enemy of one of the most important joys of them all: sleep.

15 Aug 2018

Heroin could could help patients with narcolepsy

A new study has found that users of heroin have high levels of a brain chemical called hypocretin. This hypocretin leads to “wakefulness” among the users and understanding this could help patients with narcolepsy.

29 Jun 2018

Sleep disorders appear to be first sign of serious neurological diseases

Sleep disorders are often the first sign of serious neurological diseases. Neurologists should inquire extensively about the quality of their patients' sleep.

18 Jun 2018

New study indicates possible misuse or abuse of ADHD medication

A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study indicates that methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, may be subject to misuse and/or abuse.

7 Mar 2018

Study: People with rare diseases at high risk for experiencing poor quality of life

People with rare diseases are at high risk for experiencing poor quality of life, including increased levels of anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue and limited ability to participate in society, a new study from an Oregon State University shows.

19 Dec 2017

Study shows no relation between swine flu vaccination and increased risk of type 1 diabetes

There has been a fear that the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix, would increase the risk of autoimmune diseases other than narcolepsy.

9 Oct 2017

Transcranial direct current stimulation leads to reduction in MS-related fatigue

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent a non-invasive form of electrical brain stimulation experienced significant reductions in fatigue, a common and often debilitating symptom of the disease, according to new research from the Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center at NYU Langone Health.

3 Oct 2017

Research findings may pave way for miracle drug to treat narcolepsy

Narcolepsy, a serious sleep disorder in which patients often fall asleep uncontrollably, has been incurable because no effective therapeutic agents are available to date. Recent findings by Japanese scientists in the sleep institute may shed light on this challenging problem.

30 May 2017

Gene CRY1 variant alters circadian clock contributing to delayed sleep phase disorder, study finds

If all your life, you have been functioning best in the evening and night compared to the mornings, a gene mutation may be a reason.

10 Apr 2017

Pharmaceuticalization of today’s sleep

The pharmaceuticalisation of sleep, put simply, refers to the ways in which sleep becomes a site for manipulation or augmentation through pharmaceutical use. There are different ways in which sleep can be pharmaceuticalised – for example we can use pharmaceuticals to induce sleep, to consolidate broken sleep, or to prevent or delay sleep.

4 Apr 2017

BIDMC review focuses on neural circuitry of wakefulness and sleep

Sleep remains an enduring biological mystery with major clinical relevance, according to a review by clinician-researcher Thomas Scammell, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and colleagues.

23 Feb 2017