Sleepy A more mysterious sleep disorder affecting one in every 2,000 people is narcolepsy. This chronic neurological condition causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks. Other symptoms include episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis and disturbing hallucinations while falling asleep. The average age of onset is late teens or early 20s, but most people remain undiagnosed an average of 10 to 15 years, according to Ann Rogers, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. The cause of narcolepsy is unknown, but an abnormality in sleep regulating chemicals, coupled with wakefulness in the brain, is suspected.
Doctors believe both genes and environment play a role in the disease.
While there is no cure for narcolepsy, its symptoms can be managed through stimulant drugs. A recent study from Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts found that Modafinil, a new, non-addicting drug with few side effects significantly improved excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy patients. While all narcolepsy patients experience excessive daytime sleepiness and may fall asleep doing normal activities, only 70 percent have cataplexy-a sudden, brief moment where the muscles weaken or the body is paralyzed. But cataplexy occurs when the person is awake. Another byproduct of narcolepsy is vivid hallucinations.