Through genetic and immunological studies, the Stanford Medicine sleep researcher found that narcolepsy stems from a deficiency of orexin in the brain, opening the door to new sleep therapies.
  • searabbit@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    3 hours ago

    I have type 1 narcolepsy, initially diagnosed as type 2. This man and his work has given us so much hope in future treatment options starting with oveporexton hopefully coming into the market this year.

    Little is known or understood by the general public about this condition besides the comedic tropes in the media. They’re so pervasive I, and a few doctors I’ve seen since, have doubted my condition since I don’t fall down dramatically any time I laugh (and my cataplexy isn’t triggered by positive emotions anyway). However, Narcolepsy has a lower quality of life even compared to other chronic illnesses like diabetes, MS, or epilepsy.. A third of narcoleptics, including me, lose their job because of it. And because this is an invisible chronic illness, usually we’re just accused of laziness instead of taken seriously.

    It’s just such a stigmatized misunderstood and debilitating condition I’m glad he decided to dedicate so many decades to finding us an answer even if there’s still so much we don’t know about narcolepsy and hypersomnia.