Understanding Narcolepsy, Part 1: Epidemiology and neurophysiology

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder with significant impact on health-related quality of life. The disorder is often misunderstood, and considerably under-diagnosed. Research over the last ten years has made significant progress in identifying the causes and devising management solutions for this condition. Narcolepsy’s complexity can make the disorder challenging for the individual to manage, requiring neuroscience nurses to be knowledgeable about the condition and its optimal management. This article is the first part of two, focusing on narcolepsy, offering a definition of the disorder, the pathophysiological process of the condition, and how this is manifested in the individual. The second part will focus on diagnosis and management of the condition