narcolepsy

Term: narcolepsy

Origin: Anc Greek

νάρκη/narce(=stupor or numbness)

λήψη/lepsy(=seize)

Coined:

In 1880 by French physician Dr. Jean-Baptiste-Edouard Gélineau (1828-1906). In 1907, British neurologist Dr. William Gowers (1845-1915) in his book, The Border-Land of Epilepsy, differentiated narcolepsy as a unique disorder separate from other conditions that could cause excessive daytime sleepiness as epilepsy.

Definition

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder which is characterized by by four main symptoms:

·                     Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS),

·                     Cataplexy (episodes of sudden loss of muscle tone)

·                     Sleep paralysis (inability to move or speak while waking up)

·                     Hypnogogic hallucinations, or vivid dreams that occur while a person falls asleep