Can MS be misdiagnosed as narcolepsy?

In fact, studies have found that sleep disorders like narcolepsy, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, and insomnia are commonly found among patients with MS. But as a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine points out, a significant number of sleep disorders remain undiagnosed in MS patients.

Is cataplexy a symptom of MS?

Cataplexy is an ancillary symptom of narcolepsy and also occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Is there a connection between MS and narcolepsy?

Interestingly, however, a recent meta-analysis indicated that 10 of 116 symptomatic cases of narcolepsy are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS),3 a disease of autoimmune demyelination. Symptomatic narcoleptic cases consist of heterogeneous disease conditions, but the hypocretin systems are often impaired.

What can be misdiagnosed as narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including:

• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Other psychologic/psychiatric disorders.
• Insomnia.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.

Can an MRI detect narcolepsy?

Imaging studies such as MRI are useful for excluding rare causes of symptomatic narcolepsy. Structural abnormalities of the brain stem and diencephalon may present as idiopathic narcolepsy. In patients with secondary narcolepsy, MRI of the brain may show various abnormalities that correspond to the underlying cause.

What is the mildest form of MS?

There’s no cure for multiple sclerosis, but benign MS is the mildest form of the condition.

What mimics cataplexy?

Cataplexy mimics include syncope, epilepsy, hyperekplexia, drop attacks and pseudocataplexy. They can be differentiated from cataplexy using thorough history taking, supplemented with (home)video recordings whenever possible.

Is cataplexy a neurological disorder?

Cataplexy is a brain disorder that causes a sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone and control, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Does narcolepsy cause brain lesions?

Most cases of narcolepsy are idiopathic without evidence of causative brain lesions.

Can you have cataplexy without narcolepsy?

The vast majority of people who experience cataplexy do so as a result of having type 1 narcolepsy, a chronic sleep and neurological disorder in which the brain has trouble properly controlling wake and sleep cycles. In very rare cases, cataplexy has been reported in individuals without narcolepsy, notes past research.

How does a neurologist diagnose narcolepsy?

Two specialized tests, which can be performed in a sleep disorders clinic, are required to establish a diagnosis of narcolepsy: Polysomnogram (PSG or sleep study). The PSG is an overnight recording of brain and muscle activity, breathing, and eye movements.

Does narcolepsy show up on a brain scan?

Can MS diagnosis be wrong?

Getting a correct diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a challenge. In fact, a study published in May 2019 in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders suggested that nearly 1 in 5 people with other neurologic conditions are mistakenly diagnosed with MS.

Can you have cataplexy without having narcolepsy?

What happens in the brain during cataplexy?

Cataplexy and sleep paralysis are unusual states in which the brain circuits that produce paralysis during REM sleep become active during wakefulness. During REM sleep, most muscles are paralyzed by circuits in the lower brainstem and spinal cord.

Can you see narcolepsy in an MRI?

What region of the brain triggers cataplexy?

The amygdala and prefrontal cortex are brain regions that regulate emotional responses and connect with the paralysis pathways in the brainstem. Neurons in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are active during cataplexy, and inactivating either of these regions markedly reduces cataplexy in mice with narcolepsy.

Can a neurologist tell if you have MS?

MS is diagnosed by your neurologist. They will use a specific checklist to diagnose MS, known as the McDonald criteria. They’ll carry out a number of tests to run through the criteria, which could include blood tests and MRI.

Can a neurological exam rule out MS?

An accurate diagnosis of MS is based on your medical history and neurological examination using tests of nervous system function. Much depends on the skill of the doctor in asking the right questions to uncover information and to properly evaluate the signs and symptoms of a malfunctioning nervous system.

What is narcolepsy with cataplexy?

Narcolepsy with Cataplexy Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brains inability to regulate a stable sleep-wake cycle. People who suffer from narcolepsy have mixed signals sent from their brain about when to sleep, which is why narcoleptics fall asleep at inopportune times.

Can narcolepsy be misdiagnosed as other conditions?

Narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including: 1 Depression. 2 Anxiety. 3 Other psychologic/psychiatric disorders. 4 Insomnia. 5 Obstructive sleep apnea.

Can narcolepsy be mistaken for laziness in children?

Sadly, in children and adolescents, narcolepsy can often be mistaken for laziness or lack of motivation. Undiagnosed narcolepsy can contribute to problems not only in childhood but throughout a person’s life. Children can suffer many years without a diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?

Most commonly, persons with narcolepsy experience mild cataplectic attacks, where arm or leg muscles become weak, speech is slurred or their head droops. Even in the most severe attacks, sufferers remain fully conscious, entirely aware of what is occurring, and what is happening around them.