Explanations For Narcolepsy

Question 1

Biological explanations?

Answer 1

Malfunction of REM system because classic symptoms of narcolepsy match REM sleep characteristics;
Paralysis (lack of muscle tone)
Intrusion of REM sleep into daytime- Hallucinations
So narcolepsy may be related to malfunction in system that regulates REM.

Question 2

Variant of HLA?

Answer 2

HLA is part of the body’s immune response.
Honda et al found increased frequency of one type of HLA in narcoleptic patients.
More than 90% of people suffering from narcolepsy with cataplexy have been found to have the HLA variant HLA-DQB1*0602.

Question 3

Mutation in hypocritin?

Answer 3

The neurotransmitter hypocretin plays a role in keeping people awake.
Hypocretin is produced by cells in the hypothalamus. In narcoleptics a large number of these hypocretin cells are missing causing people to sleep

Question 4

Psychological explanations?

Answer 4

Lehrman and Weiss 1943 suggested that sudden attacks of sleepiness disguise sexual fantasies