Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. Someone with the condition might feel rested after waking up in the morning but sleepy throughout the day. This phenomenon may interfere with one’s daily routine, so it must be addressed promptly. Experts believe the lack of a brain chemical hypocretin is responsible for the complication. Here are six factors that may affect the production of this chemical and cause narcolepsy.

1. Hormonal changes
Experts believe hormonal changes in women are a potential trigger of narcolepsy. Its symptoms can worsen as women near menopause and have problems with sleep and hormonal fluctuations. The most common signs are extreme drowsiness every three to four hours during the day and a strong urge to sleep, followed by a short, 15-minute nap.

2. Autoimmunity
Experts believe autoimmunity might be a potential cause of narcolepsy. Autoimmunity is a phenomenon where one’s immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues. This attack on the healthy cells might disrupt the production of hypocretin, triggering the onset of the sleep condition.

3. Age
Narcolepsy usually starts developing between the ages of 15 and 50 and is commonly diagnosed before the age of 30. While the condition might be rarer in people after age 50, it could occur. There appears to be two peak diagnostic ages of narcolepsy. The first is around age 15, and the second is at age 35. The latter is known as late-onset narcolepsy.

4. Genetics
Most cases of narcolepsy are sporadic, meaning they have no link to one’s family history. However, experts indicate a small percentage of cases have been reported in families. First-degree relatives of narcolepsy patients, such as parents, siblings, and children, are at a higher risk. This is especially the case when the patient has narcolepsy with cataplexy. First-degree relatives have a 40 times greater risk of developing the complication than others in the general population.

5. Psychological stress
The brain chemical hypocretin (also called orexin) plays a crucial role in regulating a person’s sleep cycle. Too much of the chemical may cause a high-stress response, while a deficiency could make an individual sleepy. Psychological stress could be considered a trigger factor for narcolepsy because it may lower hypocretin production and worsen the condition’s symptoms. Therefore, individuals should avoid stress as much as possible, especially if they are at risk of developing the condition.

6. Brain trauma
While rare, narcolepsy could result from damage to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain responsible for various functions, including regulating wakefulness and REM sleep. It can get damaged due to head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, concussions, strokes, brain tumors, and other conditions. When such brain damage leads to narcolepsy, it is known as secondary narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy may also occur alongside unrelated conditions people may inherit, such as autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia, narcolepsy and deafness (ADCADN), autosomal dominant narcolepsy, and type 2 diabetes. Irrespective of the cause, one must consult a healthcare expert for guidance.