Living Nightmare - questions and answers

Is there an age at which narcolepsy tends to appear?

Narcolepsy tends to appear in teenage about 13 onwards. It can start at any age. Once you've got the condition, you've got it for life.

What is the connection - if any - with fitting conditions like epilepsy?

It is often mistaken for epilepsy, but there is no link. Narcolepsy is, however, a neurological disease because it happens when brain cells die off. Like diabetes, this cell death seems to be caused by an autoimmune reaction.

Do narcoleptics ever not feel tired?

Even when they have just woken up they are still likely to feel sleepy. Their sleep is rarely completely refreshing, but it does make them feel a bit better.

Is there a difference between the enforced daytime naps that narcoleptics take and their nighttime sleep?

They never have normal sleep. They're constantly flicking in and out of sleep. They tend to go straight into REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, whereas normal people cycle their sleep. The normal (8 hour) cycle usually begins with an hour of non-REM sleep before the REM starts. REM is dreaming sleep, in which the brain is active and the body is paralysed.

What is the standard medical response to narcolepsy?

The standard treatment is with amphetamine drugs that stimulate the body.

Is tiredness in all of us simply due to a daily cycle of exhausting our reserves of orexin?

Scientists don't know exactly - it's probably one factor of several. Major effects like tiredness are rarely due to one chemical (physical tiredness is also due to a build up of lactic acid). Because orexin is newly discovered, it's still slightly mysterious.

What other functions does or might orexin have in the body?

It is possibly involved in pain control as well as sexual arousal. It may contribute to the development of dementia and indeed the whole ageing process.

Do swallows or any other animal species rely on orexin to stay active around the clock?

No studies have been published.

Would our lifespan be shortened if we were awake for more hours each day?

Probably, yes. Sleep deprivation can kill an animal faster than deprivation from food. Consequently, studies done on humans are difficult to perform on ethical grounds.

Does anyone hold a patent for orexin?

Not at the moment.