“Narcolepsy is so much more than just being tired.”– Scott
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The Neurobiology of Sleep, Wakefulness, and Narcolepsy
The Neurobiology of Normal Sleep and Wakefulness
Optimal health and cognitive function require the coordinated activity of several neuronal systems that regulate the timing and stability of three distinct states: wakefulness, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep.1-5 Learn about how the brain regulates these states to ensure that elements of one state do not intrude into another.
There’s more to know about how the brain regulates sleep and wakefulness

The Pathophysiology of Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is most often caused by the loss of hypocretin.6,7 This loss can cause the boundaries between wakefulness, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep to become unstable, allowing elements of one state to intrude into another and the transitions between states to become frequent and unpredictable.4,6,8-10
There’s more to know about how narcolepsy affects sleep and wakefulness

The Role of Histamine in Sleep and Wakefulness
In the central nervous system, histamine neurons originate only in the hypothalamus and are thought to play an important role in the regulation of sleep-wake state stability.3,11 Learn how histamine has been shown to help promote and stabilize wakefulness.3,11,12
There’s more to know about the role of histamine in regulating wakefulness

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- Scammell TE, Jackson AC, Franks NP, Wisden W, Dauvilliers Y. Histamine: neural circuits and new medications. Sleep. 2019;42(1): doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsy183.