One interesting physiological issue is narcolepsy, a rare and intriguing neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep (known as cataplexy), and disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle. Narcolepsy is thought to result from a deficiency in the neurotransmitter hypocretin (or orexin), which plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness and sleep. This condition can significantly impact a person's daily life, making it challenging to stay awake and alert during the day, leading to accidents and difficulties with work or social activities.
Narcolepsy is estimated to affect about 1 in 2,000 people, and its exact cause remains a subject of ongoing research. The most common form of narcolepsy, Type 1 narcolepsy, is often associated with the loss of hypocretin-producing cells in the brain. Various studies have contributed to our understanding of this condition, such as "Narcolepsy and Low CSF Hypocretin (Orexin) Concentration in Monozygotic Twins" published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2000. Further research is essential to develop more effective treatments and management strategies for narcolepsy, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals living with this condition.
Source: Chemelli, R. M., Willie, J. T., Sinton, C. M., Elmquist, J. K., Scammell, T., Lee, C., ... & Yanagisawa, M. (1999). Narcolepsy in orexin knockout mice: molecular genetics of sleep regulation. Cell, 98(4), 437-451. URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10481909
I think this topic is very interesting! I did some more research and found that deficiencies in the neurotransmitter hypocretin are extremely rare, however are found in nearly all patients diagnosed with narcolepsy. Due to this disease essentially being caused by the inhibition of the neurotransmitter hypocretin, I believe that hypocretin replacement therapy could be a promising therapeutic treatment targeting this neurotransmitter will be the most beneficial in treatment and improving quality of life for patients with narcolepsy. In fact, in this article, they believe that this can be promising in treating many different diseases along with narcolepsy, like Guilian-Barre syndrome which also is caused by defects in the neurotransmitter hypocretin.
ReplyDeleteSource: Nishino, S., Okuro, M., Kotorii, N., Anegawa, E., Ishimaru, Y., Matsumura, M., & Kanbayashi, T. (2010). Hypocretin/orexin and narcolepsy: new basic and clinical insights. Acta physiologica (Oxford, England), 198(3), 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1716.2009.02012.x
I found some interesting information as well for this topic. I was researching about the causes of narcolepsy and there are quite a few. While some people have genetic, hormonal and psychological stress that trigger narcolepsy, swine flu other infections were a risk factor ("Narcolepsy Causes", 2023). After a campus presentation about how bacterial infections can cause neurological damage without even entering the brain. I wonder if these infections are causing damage in the brain that is causing narcolepsy.
ReplyDelete“Narcolepsy Causes.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/narcolepsy/causes/#:~:text=Many%20cases%20of%20narcolepsy%20are,the%20brain%20that%20produce%20hypocretin. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.