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Re: Mechanism of narcolepsy...

Posted by Shadow on August 26, 2003 at 03:37:03:

In Reply to: Re: Mechanism of narcolepsy... posted by charles757 on August 25, 2003 at 09:01:57:

Hi!

I gonna try to answer as best as I can...

As far as I know there is a circadian rhythm in humans anyway with less vigilance at certain times and surely underlying changes in neurotransmitter activity. For details I have to repeat a net-research I did some time ago... There are many reports about circadian rhythms and its mechanisms. There are many neurotransmitters involved in this with mechanisms of rhythmical increasing or decreasing their activities. It's all quite complicated and as far as I remember the precise mechanism of how and why sleep is induced and stopped are still unknown. There exist some data but I think they are not put together completely so far.

And N is not really a disorder of circadian rhythm, it's rather a disorder of the border between sleep and wakefulness (that's what I call it for easier understanding) and of the composition and co-functioning of different components of sleep. The sleep-attacks can also be irregular. Though most of us experience this 2-4 hour rhythms (with tiredness at day and waking up at night)... But maybe we are just more sensitive to the normal underlying circadian rhythm since we live in this border area of sleep touching wakefulness anyway all the time?!

I gonna do some more research (especially about this rhythm thing and neurotransmitter changes during sleep) as soon as I have the time!

There is a genetic disposition for N (-> HLA DR2 or HLA DQW1).

The area where the hypocretin is missing is mainly the hypothalamus lying at the brains base. The hypothalamus coordinates sleep and many more basic body functions, but this area is rather the brain stem than the occipital area of the brain. Where did you find about this?

I don't have those jaw movements I think. I sometimes start kind of chewing when near falling asleep, but I rather think it to be a habit since I can do and stop it voluntarily.
When falling asleep the muscle tone is regulated down and sometimes this causes twitching of arms or legs that are recognized just when entering the world of sleep. Those are normal.

I hope this helped a bit! And sometimes I hope that some scientists read our pages too... Questions can lead to answers and questions one never thought of before can lead to answers one never thought of before... Maybe there are some underlying mechanisms explaining N nobody has thought of before? Maybe the important hint has just been overlooked so far? Maybe it's all very easy lying just at hand? Maybe...?

Ciao!
Shadow

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