"Anyway, in the course of this, I discovered the test for type 1 narcolepsy, which is that you're put in a room with zero stimulation nothing to read, no one to chat to, perfect silence, perfect temperature and timed on how long it takes you to fall asleep. If it's under eight minutes, you're narcoleptic. But the average, for a person with no complaints in that area at all, is 22 minutes. I was completely incredulous."
"This is a grip on consciousness more or less the same as a house cat. Bored? Go to sleep. Even a dog will have a quick look for something to eat first. Obviously I've spread this troubling statistic all over town, and most people have follow-ups, such as: what kind of a room? What colour is the room? Is there a chair in it, and is it comfy? Never mind the chair, what kind of hoodlum can fall asleep without a bed?"
Pharmaceutical research is nearing drugs that could cure narcolepsy, with mechanisms that might also address insomnia. Obesity treatments like Wegovy differ in impact because obesity is widespread while narcolepsy is rare. The diagnostic test for type 1 narcolepsy places a person in a stimulus-free room—no reading, conversation, or sensory input—and times how long it takes to fall asleep; under eight minutes indicates narcolepsy, and the typical unconcerned person averages about 22 minutes. Cataplexy can trigger sudden sleep or collapse after strong emotions, including laughter. Human wakefulness depends heavily on social interest and environmental stimulation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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