{"id":4037,"date":"2022-01-18T18:40:49","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T17:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=4037"},"modified":"2024-02-19T15:05:29","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T14:05:29","slug":"narcolepsy-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/narcolepsy-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Surprising Narcolepsy Statistics &#038; Facts for 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine not ever being able to control your sleep-wake cycle. This is exactly the key problem of people with narcolepsy, a neurological disorder affecting wakefulness control.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the research and subsequent <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and facts, the science behind these people\u2019s sleep cycles is that their REM sleep and non-REM sleep blend into each other. Because REM is characterized by dreaming and a \u201cparalysis\u201d of the body\u2014which keeps us from acting out our dreams and possibly getting injured\u2014this overlap can become dangerous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At DisturbMeNot, we\u2019ve made an effort to elaborate further on this condition, highlighting its prevalence, risks, and symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Top 10 Key <\/b><b>Narcolepsy Stats<\/b><b> &amp; Facts\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narcolepsy affects 3 million people worldwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 1 narcolepsy has an overall prevalence of 25\u201350 people per 100,000.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narcolepsy can cause hallucinations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only about 25% of people with narcolepsy receive therapy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong emotions in narcoleptic patients may induce paralysis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some types of narcolepsy occur due to a loss of hypocretins.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists claim that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking Provigil, a commonly prescribed drug in narcolepsy treatment, may result in psychological and physical dependence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">68% of patients with narcolepsy claim that due to their diagnosis, they never feel like \u201cnormal\u201d people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">84% of physicians feel that social media and modern entertainment contributes to a distorted perception of narcolepsy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>General <\/b><b>Narcolepsy Facts<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4039 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/featured-1-e1582209806781.jpg\" alt=\"Narcolepsy Statistics - Featured\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" \/><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this section, we\u2019ll help you understand more about narcolepsy in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. When a person has narcolepsy, this doesn\u2019t mean they spend all their time asleep.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medium)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to a common misconception, individuals with narcolepsy don\u2019t sleep constantly, though they do struggle with excessive sleepiness throughout the day. There\u2019s also a heightened risk of patients falling asleep when they aren\u2019t supposed to. In addition, though it may seem paradoxical, they may struggle with falling asleep at night.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. There are two different types of narcolepsy.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Verywell Health)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facts about narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">without cataplexy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Type 1 narcolepsy is known to be accompanied by cataplexy, which refers to the sudden loss of muscle tone, typically due to a strong emotional response. Type 2, also known as narcolepsy without cataplexy, is marked by irrepressible daytime lapses into sleep, but without episodes of cataplexy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. The onset of narcolepsy usually occurs during childhood or young adulthood.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Thomas Health)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The belief that narcolepsy doesn\u2019t affect children is one of the widespread <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy myths, and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it seems, have proved it wrong. Although it can occur at any point in life, it usually affects young people between the ages of 15 and 25. However, it has definitely been seen in children under 15 as well, but it\u2019s often either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Moreover, it\u2019s usually initially interpreted as an emotional problem, attention deficit disorder, or even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/sleep-apnea-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Another of the <\/b><b>interesting narcolepsy facts<\/b><b> notes that it can cause hallucinations.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Sleep Foundation)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve ever woken up from sleep aware of everything around you but still unable to move, chances are you\u2019ve experienced a condition called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/what-is-sleep-paralysis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep paralysis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While the very possibility of being in such a state sounds scary enough, it can get even scarier and include hallucinations, which usually seem quite realistic. While this state can occur in anyone, it happens far more frequently in narcoleptic patients.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Excessive sleepiness isn\u2019t <\/b><b>fun<\/b><b>, but the <\/b><b>facts about narcolepsy<\/b><b> suggest that it\u2019s a highly manageable condition.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Sleep Education)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing that a physician will probably recommend to anyone with narcolepsy is changing their lifestyle toward a more disciplined one. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, scheduling <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/napping-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">short naps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the day, exercising, and avoiding <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/alcohol-and-sleep\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alcohol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are all highly effective. Some physicians prescribe medications such as stimulants or SSRIs to alleviate cataplexy symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. You probably know someone with narcolepsy without being aware of it.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Sleep Foundation &amp; Ranker)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to many sleep-related conditions, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has a lower <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prevalence<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that the condition affects 1 out of 2000 people. This is still relatively common, or at least common enough for most of us to get to know someone with narcolepsy. There are even some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">famous people with narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, like Jimmy Kimmel and Winston Churchill. Narcoleptic patients look just like anyone else on the outside\u2014but they can struggle with the so-called \u201cbrain fog\u201d while awake, making it hard to focus on daily tasks. Very often, those who aren\u2019t informed of a patient\u2019s condition have trouble understanding their behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Interesting<\/b><b> Medical <\/b><b>Facts About Narcolepsy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, we\u2019ll be exploring the medical side of narcolepsy, including side-effects of medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7. Strong emotions in narcoleptic patients may induce paralysis\u2014probably one of the scariest <\/b><b>facts about narcolepsy<\/b><b>.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medscape)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cataplexy is a common symptom occurring in people with narcolepsy. It consists of uncontrollable muscle weakness or paralysis that happens all of a sudden (mostly during the daytime). This is usually triggered by some strong emotion, either pleasant or unpleasant (excitement, laughter, annoyance, anger). During these episodes, a person loses muscle tone and experiences weakness in their body, often a slack jaw and broken speech.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>8. Some types of narcolepsy occur due to a loss of hypocretins.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Healthy Sleep)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists studying <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">important facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, having found that narcolepsy with cataplexy results from a deficiency of brain chemicals called hypocretins. This happens when hypocretin-producing neurons die off, which makes the REM phase of sleep in people with type 1 narcolepsy poorly regulated. This means that some of the elements of REM sleep manifest during wakefulness, such as paralysis or dreamlike phantasmagorias.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Scientists claim that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medical News Today)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the fresh 2019 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, scientists from Denmark have found autoreactive cells in all of the analyzed blood samples of people with narcolepsy. These cells seem to \u201cperceive\u201d the body\u2019s own hypocretin-producing neurons as \u201cforeigners\u201d set to invade them, as though they\u2019re bacteria or viruses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>10. Taking Provigil, a commonly prescribed drug in narcolepsy treatment, may result in psychological and physical dependence.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Medical News Today)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provigil is relatively safe, and most people don\u2019t face withdrawal symptoms after they\u2019ve finished the therapy. Still, it sometimes happens, especially if the drug is used in high doses. Generally, it\u2019s more likely to occur with people who have addictive habits and tendencies toward alcohol and drug abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Narcolepsy Statistics Worldwide<\/b><b><\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4040 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/person-covering-woman-with-blanket-1124837-e1582209972954.jpg\" alt=\"Narcolepsy Statistics - Important Stats\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" \/><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this section, we\u2019ll be looking at statistics about narcolepsy from throughout the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>11. Narcolepsy affects 3 million people worldwide.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Narcolepsy Network)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research suggests that narcolepsy affects 0.04% of people worldwide. Interestingly, this disorder is more prevalent in Japan, with roughly 1 out of 600 people suffering from narcolepsy. Meanwhile, data from the US reports that it affects 1 out of 2,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>12. Only about 25% of narcoleptic people are <\/b><b>diagnosed <\/b><b>with<\/b><b> narcolepsy<\/b><b>, as <\/b><b>statistics<\/b><b> show.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Narcolepsy Network)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is probably the case due to frequent misdiagnosis since the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/narcolepsy-symptoms\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">symptoms of narcolepsy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> overlap with symptoms of other related disorders. A recent study has shown that up to 60% of patients get misdiagnosed, mostly with depression, insomnia, and sleep apnea.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>13. People who have immediate relatives with narcolepsy are at a 20\u201340 times increased risk of developing it as well.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Annual Reviews)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers discovered mutations in the T-cell receptor gene in narcoleptic patients, which might be responsible for developing narcolepsy. However, when it comes to whether there\u2019s a firm connection between <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genetics, statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that most cases still occur in people without a family history of the disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>14. Type 1 narcolepsy has an overall prevalence of 25\u201350 people per 100,000.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(UpToDate)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to estimates, narcolepsy type 1 (narcolepsy with cataplexy) has an incidence rate of 0.74 per 100,000 people per year. Meanwhile, the prevalence of narcolepsy type 2 (narcolepsy without cataplexy) has been harder to verify. However, some research points to a prevalence of about 20\u201334 per 100,000 people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>15. In the case of <\/b><b>narcolepsy with cataplexy, statistics<\/b><b> following European populations show an estimated prevalence of 0.02%.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Wiley Online Library)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narcolepsy is a relatively rare disorder in both Europe and other parts of the world. The rationale behind such data is perhaps the frequency of misdiagnosis and general unawareness of the disease and its consequences. Hence, only a few European countries have registered narcolepsy cases in databases tracking rare disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>16. The <\/b><b>statistics on people with narcolepsy<\/b><b> state that about 30%\u201350% of them have had accidents due to suddenly falling asleep.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Healthy Sleep)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Activities that might endanger people with narcolepsy range from the obviously risky ones such as driving and running dangerous machinery to cooking, or even just smoking. In order to prevent the dangers, people with narcolepsy need to understand the circumstances under which they usually become unfocused and fall asleep. Additionally, they might consider avoiding jobs that require prolonged focus under monotonous conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>17. Cataplexy affects roughly 75% of people with narcolepsy.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Health of Children)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statistics on narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that a quarter of people with narcolepsy have experienced the previously mentioned dramatic episodes of cataplexy. This data confirms that more people suffer from type 1 narcolepsy. Cataplexy attacks are short (usually less than two minutes) and the person who experiences them always stays completely conscious.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>18. In the UK, there are approximately 30,000 patients with narcolepsy.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Narcolepsy UK)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the UK\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statistics about narcolepsy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it\u2019s believed that there are 30,000 people with a confirmed narcolepsy diagnosis. However, as in other parts of the world, it\u2019s highly likely that there are numerous undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>19. 68% of patients with narcolepsy claim that due to their diagnosis, they never feel like \u201cnormal\u201d people.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Stat News)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although this disorder is manageable, it can still affect an individual\u2019s personal life and work performance. A survey showed that 45% of people struggling with narcolepsy state the disorder controls their lives. Moreover, 78% of the people surveyed agreed they had no idea what it would be like to live with narcolepsy prior to being affected by it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>20. <\/b><b>Narcolepsy statistics<\/b><b> show that 84% of physicians feel that social media and modern entertainment contributes to a distorted perception of narcolepsy.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Stat News)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently surveyed US physicians report that many narcolepsy symptoms are usually ascribed to other conditions with similar symptoms, like depression or insomnia. Examinees living with the disorder report that they didn\u2019t get diagnosed until approximately six years after their first symptoms showed. They all agreed that the media\u2019s portrayal of narcolepsy is one of the greatest contributors to general unawareness and disinterest regarding this serious disorder. As a result, many are also unaware of the available treatment options, according to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy statistics <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> US<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While narcolepsy itself isn\u2019t a life-threatening condition, it significantly decreases one\u2019s quality of life, potentially exposing an individual to possibly fatal conditions. Most people with this disorder aren\u2019t even aware they have it, and the symptoms are often overlooked. As a result, someone with narcolepsy may struggle with their everyday routine for over a decade before getting an accurate diagnosis. This is why it\u2019s crucial to raise awareness and stay informed. Hopefully, our <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narcolepsy statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0have made a considerable contribution.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These narcolepsy statistics should raise awareness of this condition. Although it&#8217;s not life-threatening, it significantly decreases one\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/stats-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,20],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4037"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4037"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15784,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4037\/revisions\/15784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}