diagnose because some of its symptoms, such as fatigue, are common to many conditions. The average time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis is seven years.
8. Narcolepsy is diagnosed through a sleep study, a set of medical tests requiring an overnight stay in a sleep lab.
9. Misdiagnosis is common. In a recent study, 60% of patients were misdiagnosed. The most common misdiagnosis was depression (almost one-third of the patients), followed by insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. (Patients’ Journeys to a Narcolepsy Diagnosis; Lawrence P Carter, PhD, Christine Acebo, PhD, AnnY Kim, MA)
10. Scientists have confirmed that narcolepsy is caused by the loss of the two brain chemicals called hypocretins (orexins). These are neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle as well as other bodily functions such as blood pressure and metabolism.
11. While the cause of the loss of hypocretin is still unknown, current research points to