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Narcolepsy - Risk Factors

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of narcolepsy.

Risk Factors:

Narcolepsy affects around 1 in 2,000 people. Experts estimate that around 135,000 - 200,000 Americans have narcolepsy, but the number may be higher. Only about 25% of people who have narcolepsy are actually diagnosed with the disorder. Patients are often mistakenly diagnosed with other conditions, such as psychiatric or emotional problems. Many patients wait decades before receiving a proper diagnosis.

Age

Narcolepsy symptoms usually first appear in adolescence or young adulthood. However, narcolepsy can begin at any age. Growing evidence suggests that the disorder may emerge in early childhood in many patients. It can often be misdiagnosed as another disorder, such as ADHD or depression. People who develop it at a young age often have a family history of the disease and a severe condition, suggesting that genetic factors are important in this group.

Resources

www.aasmnet.org -- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
www.sleepfoundation.org -- National Sleep Foundation
www.narcolepsynetwork.org -- Narcolepsy Network
www.med.stanford.edu/school/psychiatry/narcolepsy -- Stanford Center For Narcolepsy
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep -- National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
www.ninds.nih.gov -- National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke

References

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Dodel R, Peter H, Spottke A, et al. Health-related quality of life in patients with narcolepsy. Sleep Med. 2007 Nov;8(7-8):733-41. Epub 2007 May 18.

Durmer, J. Narcolepsy. Instant diagnosis and treatment. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2009. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009.

Harsh JR, Hayduk R, Rosenberg R, Wesnes KA, Walsh JK, Arora S, et al. The efficacy and safety of armodafinil as treatment for adults with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006;22(4):761-774.

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Reviewed last on: 8/5/2009
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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