Cause of narcolepsy may be immune system disorder

Narcolepsy sufferers fall asleep instantly, anywhere. Researchers have found that an immune system malfunction may be the cause in some cases. It is believed that the immune system produces antibodies which damage brain tissue which controls sleep and wakefulness. This in turn triggers narcolepsy symptoms. Previously, the condition has been believed to be related to hormones and nervous system activity. These results need to be confirmed but provide hope for diagnosis through a simple blood test and effective treatment or prevention therapies.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by BBC News - UK

Related Disease Topics:

• Narcolepsy
• Sleep disorder
• Immune system disorder
• Hormonal disorder
• Nervous system disorder

Related Symptom Topics:

• Antibody production
• Brain tissue damage

Article Source Details

About: Cause of narcolepsy may be immune system disorder

Date: 13 December 2004

Source: BBC News - UK

URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4081225.stm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Autoimmune disorder
• Diagnosis and narcolepsy
• Diagnosis and sleep disorder
• Diagnosis and immune system disorder
• Diagnosis and antibody production
• Diagnosis and brain tissue damage
• Research and autoimmune disorder
• Research and diagnosis and narcolepsy
• Research and diagnosis and sleep disorder
• Research and diagnosis and immune system disorder
• Research and diagnosis and antibody production
• Research and diagnosis and brain tissue damage
• Cause of brain tissue damage
• Cause of narcolepsy
• Cause of sleep disorder

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