NARCOLEPSY: A FRENCH RESEARCHER REWARDED

10 YEARS OF RESEARCH FOR A CAUSE AND A TREATMENT

Emmanuel Mignot, a professor at Stanford University, discovered the mechanism behind narcolepsy by studying dogs with the disease. This major breakthrough has paved the way for the development of effective treatments.

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a very rare but highly debilitating disorder, affecting about 1 in 2,000 people. It is characterized by:
- Daytime Sleepiness: the patient experiences sudden bouts of sleep during the day, lasting a few minutes. These can occur under any condition, at any moment, without warning.
- Cataplexy: asudden loss of muscle tone, causing difficulties in speaking and a sudden weakness in the limbs that can lead to falls. This often occurs during strong emotions like laughter, surprise, or anger.

Narcolepsy is very difficult to diagnose, with studies showing that diagnosis is usually made 4 to 7 years after the first symptoms appear. This diagnosis requires polysomnography, which records sleep phases during the night, followed by tests during daytime sleep periods.
Possible causes include genetic predisposition, head trauma, or even viral infections. The flu vaccine has often been blamed for creating conditions…