The prevalence of narcolepsy is relatively low. However, estimates are likely lower than the actual number of people living with narcolepsy. This is likely due to misdiagnosis and underreporting.
Narcolepsy is a relatively rare sleep disorder that causes symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness. It shares symptoms with other conditions, and experts believe it is often misdiagnosed.
The true prevalence of the condition could therefore be higher than what is currently reported.
This article discusses the number of people living with narcolepsy, who gets narcolepsy, symptoms, and more.
![A male sleeping with their head on a dining table in a kitchen with tiled flooring. People with narcolepsy may experience excessive daytime sleepiness.](http://i0.wp.com/post.medicalnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/male-sleeping-table-overhead-1296x728-header-1024x576.jpg?w=1155&h=2268)
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes estimates that around
Other estimates indicate that about 44.3–50 people per 100,000 in the U.S. have the disorder.
The exact number of people with narcolepsy can be difficult to determine. Experts indicate that many cases may go undiagnosed or unreported.
However, the above estimates may be low as they only factor in insured people who actively sought care, which may exclude certain populations.
The number of people living with narcolepsy may vary based on location. For example, a 2022 study noted that an estimated 47 people per 100,000 had narcolepsy across Europe. But in Germany, the incidence was estimated to be about 17.88 people per 100,000.
Narcolepsy can affect anyone and start at any age. The majority of people receive a diagnosis between the ages of 15 and 50 years. The most common ages of diagnosis are 15 and 36.
The condition affects males and females equally.
Scientists are still unclear on the causes of narcolepsy, but they have identified some potential causes and risk factors. These
- Low hypocretin levels: Hypocretin is a hormone that promotes wakefulness and REM sleep. Most people with narcolepsy have very low levels of hypocretin.
- Autoimmune disorders: Researchers think that environmental and genetic factors may cause the immune system to attack the brain cells that produce hypocretin.
- Brain injuries: In rare cases, narcolepsy can be caused by traumatic injury, tumors, or diseases in the parts of the brain that regulate REM sleep and wakefulness.
- Family history: Around 10% of people with narcolepsy report having a close family member with similar symptoms, and clusters can occur in families. However, most cases are sporadic, with no family history.
Symptoms typically start one at a time and can vary greatly between people in terms of severity. The condition:
- is not progressive
- may have large gaps between the onset of different symptoms
- often starts with excessive sleepiness, with other symptoms coming later
- is a lifelong disorder
Learn more about narcolepsy and whether there is a genetic link.
Symptoms can vary between people. The symptoms
The most common symptoms include:
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- sleep paralysis, which is a feeling of an inability to move
- cataplexy, which is sudden loss of muscle tone leading to trouble moving
- hallucinations, which often occur around waking or falling asleep and may occur with paralysis
Everyone will experience excessive sleepiness, but an estimated
There are
People with type 2 narcolepsy, or narcolepsy without cataplexy, typically experience less severe symptoms and have regular hypocretin levels in the brain.
In some cases, a person may experience secondary narcolepsy. This can occur due to injury to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that helps to regulate sleep, or in people with other neurological disorders or sleep issues.
Experts
In some cases, a person may not seek care for their symptoms. This could also cause lower rates of diagnosed cases.
Proper diagnosis can take years in some cases because doctors mistake narcolepsy for other conditions that have similar symptoms.
Narcolepsy often gets misdiagnosed. According to some experts, healthcare professionals
Many conditions have similar symptoms to narcolepsy, mainly excessive sleepiness. These include:
- sleep apnea
- idiopathic hypersomnia, a rare disorder that causes extreme sleepiness for no known reason
- Kleine-Levin syndrome, a rare disorder that causes a need for excessive sleep, increased food intake, and an overly active sex drive
- depression
- brain tumors
- hypoglycemia
- hardened arteries in the brain
- head trauma
- delayed sleep phase syndrome
- periodic limb movement disorder
- excess blood in urine due to kidney failure
- psychosis
- hypothyroidism
A person should consider speaking to a healthcare professional if they experience excessive sleepiness or fall asleep while performing activities. They can help rule out possible causes and provide a diagnosis.
Narcolepsy is a relatively rare condition affecting an estimated 125,000 to 200,000 people in the U.S. However, this estimate is likely off, with several experts indicating that numbers are likely much higher due to misdiagnosis and underreporting.