Swiss scientists say the trigger they have found for narcolepsy, the health disorder that sparks sudden daytime bouts of tiredness or sleep, could open up new avenues for treatment.
The protein, called Trib2, is produced by neurones that also secrete the substance which helps keeps people awake, hypocretin, the researchers at Geneva and Lausanne Universities said in a statement.
Narcolepsy - Overview Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Prevention FAQs
Sleep is the blissful state that rejuvenates our mind and body everyday and any deprivation often leads to a disorder that can affect our health
Sleep is the blissful state that rejuvenates our mind and body everyday and any deprivation often leads to a disorder that can affect our health
The researcher team concluded that narcolepsy was the result of an attack by the body's own immune system, after they found high levels of Trib2 antibodies amongst a sample of 120 narcoleptic patients.
The antibodies end up destroying the hypocretic neurones.
About Hypersomnia
Hyper means “excessive” and somnia refers to “sleep”, so hypersomnia is excessively long or deep sleep despite sleeping for several hours at night.
Hyper means “excessive” and somnia refers to “sleep”, so hypersomnia is excessively long or deep sleep despite sleeping for several hours at night.
The sleep disorder disappeared in most of the patients treated soon after first symptoms, the statement added.
Advertisement
Sleep - Overview and Definition
Sleep is a behavioral state of restricted physical activity. It is controlled by our internal biological clock.
Sleep is a behavioral state of restricted physical activity. It is controlled by our internal biological clock.
The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Advertisement
THK
