Understanding narcolepsy: the wider perspective

Narcolepsy is a relatively new condition in the field of neurology, having been established as a neurodegenerative condition only over the past 20 years. The full extent of the condition's impact on health and its complexity continue to be unravelled by research. The emerging insight into narcolepsy illustrates that it is not confined to the realm of sleep, but also affects pain response, mental health, cognition, metabolism and autonomic regulation. This paper examines recent evidence of importance to understanding narcolepsy and managing its effects on health-related quality of life.