What is narcolespy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Individuals with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, and may also suffer from cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions. Other symptoms can include sleep paralysis and hallucinations during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. The exact cause is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a deficiency of hypocretin, a neurotransmitter that regulates arousal and wakefulness.