Risk Factors for Narcolepsy

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

Very little is known about the risk factors for narcolepsy . Narcolepsy seems to run in some families; about 8%-30% of people with narcolepsy have another family member with the condition.

References

Chen L, Fong SY, Lam CW, et al. The familial risk and HLA susceptibility among narcolepsy patients in Hong Kong, Chinese. Sleep. 2007;30:851-858.

Goetz CG, Pappert EJ. Textbook of Clinical Neurology . Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 1999.

Narcolepsy. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/nar/nar%5Fwhat.html . Updated November 2008. Accessed April 7, 2009.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.