Final answer:
One of the causes of narcolepsy is a deficiency in the brain signaling molecule hypocretin. Patients often experience cataplexy and dream-like hallucinations, and treatments generally include stimulant drugs with an ongoing focus on developing medications targeting the hypocretin system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Studies performed in sleep clinics have shown that one of the causes of narcolepsy is a deficiency in the signaling molecule hypocretin in certain areas of the brain. People with narcolepsy experience an irresistible urge to sleep during waking hours, often accompanied by cataplexy, which is muscle weakness or paralysis similar to what is experienced during REM sleep. In addition to cataplexy and sleep attacks, about one-third of individuals with narcolepsy experience vivid, dream-like hallucinations during attacks, which further connects the disorder with REM sleep abnormalities.
Traditional treatment options often include the use of psychomotor stimulant drugs, such as amphetamines, which increase levels of neural activity but don't directly affect the hypocretin system that is disrupted in narcolepsy. Recent research suggests that future medications might target the hypocretin system directly to combat the causes of narcolepsy more effectively. The variability among sufferers, including how symptoms manifest and treatment effectiveness, indicates that narcolepsy requires a personalized approach to treatment.