• The term “NarcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.” is derived from the French “narcolepsie,” coined in 1880 by Dr. Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Gélineau by combining the Greek words “narke” (numbness, stupor) and “lepsis” (attack or seizure).
• Narcolepsy is estimated to affect at least 1 in every 2000 Americans.
• Of the estimated 200,000 Americans suspected to be affected by Narcolepsy, approximately only 50,000 have been diagnosed.
• Narcolepsy is estimated to affect 1 in 600 Japanese citizens.
• Narcolepsy is as common as Multiple Sclerosis.
• Narcolepsy is more common than Cystic Fibrosis.
• On average, it takes 10 years to get a Narcolepsy diagnosis from the time of the first recognized onset of symptoms.
• Narcolepsy is the 3rd most diagnosed sleep disorder.
• Narcolepsy can be linked to problems with learning and social development in children.
• Narcolepsy can be related to obesity, memory loss, and cognitive functioning in adults.
• Undiagnosed Narcoleptics are suspected to cause thousands of automobile accidents every year.
• Narcolepsy is commonly misdiagnosed in children as ADHD or syncope.
• Narcolepsy is commonly misdiagnosed in adults as Multiple Sclerosis or epilepsy.
• Narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, or Asthma.
• Even with evidence to the contrary, physicians of all specialties continue to label Narcolepsy a “rare” disease.

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