What Causes Narcolepsy? (& Simple Tips To Prevent It)

Narcolepsy can disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. In this article, we’ll explain what narcolepsy is, look at the common causes behind this sleep disorder and how it can affect your daily life. We’ll also provide simple tips to help manage the condition and reduce its impact.

Key Takeaways

Here are the five biggest takeaways from this article about the causes of narcolepsy:

People with narcolepsy may fall asleep suddenly during the day, even in the middle of activities, and often experience fragmented sleep at night.
Symptoms such as hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), and sleep paralysis can disrupt the quality of sleep and increase sleep difficulties.
Narcolepsy is often caused by a lack of hypocretin/orexin. This brain chemical helps regulate sleep, and its deficiency is typically linked to autoimmune responses where the immune system mistakenly attacks cells that produce hypocretin.
Potential triggers include genetic factors, hormonal changes, psychological stress, infections (like swine flu), and even the Pandemrix flu vaccine.
Managing narcolepsy involves good sleep habits, emotional support, and, in some cases, medication such as Modafinil.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a long-term sleep disorder that causes extreme daytime drowsiness and makes it difficult to stay awake for extended periods. People with narcolepsy may suddenly fall asleep, even in the middle of activities, which can disrupt their routine and lead to issues with safety. Some people also experience cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle control often triggered by strong emotions like laughter.

Narcolepsy is categorised into two types: Type 1, which includes cataplexy, and Type 2, where cataplexy is absent. Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for narcolepsy, although medication and lifestyle adjustments can help manage it and reduce its impact on daily life.

How could narcolepsy affect my sleep?

Although people with narcolepsy feel extremely tired during the day, they often struggle with staying asleep at night (Roth et al, 2013). There are a number of different ways that narcolepsy can affect your sleep (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2024), including:

Broken sleep

Narcolepsy can cause broken or fragmented sleep. Broken/fragmented sleep occurs when you wake up frequently during the night and struggle to get back to sleep. Narcolepsy can cause this as it can cause you to feel extremely tired during the day and struggle to get to (and stay) asleep during the night.

Falling asleep suddenly multiple times a day

This is one of the most well-known symptoms of narcolepsy and is called excessive daytime sleepiness. People with narcolepsy may experience "sleep attacks" where they suddenly fall asleep without warning, even during activities such as talking, eating, or driving. This can occur several times throughout the day and can significantly disrupt daily life and routines.

Vivid dreams when falling asleep or just before waking up

Narcolepsy can also cause you to experience vivid dreams, particularly when falling asleep or just before waking up. These dreams are known as hypnagogic (occurring as you fall asleep) and hypnopompic (occurring when you wake up) hallucinations. They often feel very realistic and are often more intense than normal dreams.

Involuntary muscle movements during sleep (PLMD)

Narcolepsy can cause involuntary muscle movements during sleep, known as periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). People with narcolepsy may experience repetitive, jerking movements of their legs or arms while sleeping. These movements can disrupt sleep, leading to more fragmented rest and contributing to the overall sleep difficulties associated with narcolepsy.

Sleep paralysis

According to the NHS, narcolepsy can also cause sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is a condition that means you cannot move or speak when falling asleep or waking up. This can last for a few seconds to several minutes. Whilst sleep paralysis

What causes narcolepsy?

A lack of Hypocretin/Orexin in your brain

Narcolepsy is often caused by a lack of a brain chemical called hypocretin (also known as orexin), which helps regulate sleep, according to the NHS. Researchers have found that some people with narcolepsy produce antibodies against a protein called trib2, which is made in the same area of the brain that produces hypocretin. This leads to lower levels of hypocretin, making it harder for the brain to regulate sleep cycles.

Problems with your immune system

In many cases, this deficiency occurs because the immune system mistakenly attacks the parts of the brain that produce hypocretin, a condition known as an autoimmune response. It should be noted that not all cases of narcolepsy are linked to hypocretin deficiency, and the exact cause in these cases often remains unclear.

What could be possible triggers for narcolepsy?

Several factors can potentially be triggers for issues with narcolepsy, including (NHS, 2022):

Inherited genetic issues, such as a family history of narcolepsy
Hormonal changes triggered by puberty or menopause
Psychological stress
Sudden changes in sleep patterns
Certain infections, such as swine flu or streptococcal infections
Flu vaccine Pandemrix

Research into the condition is still ongoing, and it is yet to be confirmed how each of these factors contributes directly to the development of narcolepsy.

What can I do to prevent narcolepsy?

While there is no specific cure for narcolepsy, there are several things you can do to help manage symptoms and minimise their impact on daily life (NHS, 2022), including:

Good sleeping habits

Establishing a sleep schedule can significantly reduce the impact narcolepsy can have on your life, as well as the quality of sleep you are getting at night. You should aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. You should also focus on good sleep hygiene, ensuring your bedroom is kept dark, quiet and cool. If your schedule allows you to, consider planning regular naps throughout the day, but try not to sleep too long, as this could impact your sleep at night.

Talking to others

Talking to others can also help you in terms of emotional support. Narcolepsy can significantly impact you on a day-to-day basis, so getting the emotional support you need is almost as important as dealing with its symptoms.

Medications (Stimulants, Modafinil, Sodium Oxybate, Antidepressants)

In more severe cases of narcolepsy, you may need to use prescription medications to help manage your symptoms. Some medications that can help with narcolepsy include:

Modafinil is a prescription medication used to help prevent sleepiness. You can buy Modafinil online from PharmXtra.
Stimulants that help to increase alertness and reduce sleepiness.
Sodium Oxybate is a prescription medication that improves nighttime sleep.
Antidepressants can sometimes be used to help with symptoms, including cataplexy.