Narcolepsy

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes severe daytime sleepiness. People with narcolepsy easily go into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a sleep stage in which the eyes may appear to be moving and dreams typically occur.

There are two types of narcolepsy, type 1 (narcolepsy and cataplexy) and type 2 (narcolepsy without cataplexy). The symptoms of both are very similar, but they may have different causes.

There is no cure for narcolepsy, but lifestyle changes and medications can help treat symptoms.

Meet Jake who has narcolepsy

Care for narcolepsy

At Boston Children’s Hospital, our team of specialists is experienced in diagnosing and treating narcolepsy in children and adolescents. Our Sleep Center brings together clinicians from pediatric neurology, developmental medicine, psychology, and pulmonology to care for this disorder.

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