After a news story about a boy who suddenly falls asleep in class, narcolepsy has Chinese social media abuzz with questions about the illness and its symptoms, reports Global Times.
Pan said the pathogenesis of narcolepsy is still being researched, but environmental and genetic factors can cause the disorder. He said between 8 and 10 percent of the patients who suffer from narcolepsy have a history of the neurological disorder in their family’s medical history.
Also, he said some patients with narcolepsy have abnormal hypocretin levels. Hypocretin is a chemical that helps to regulate wakefulness and appetite in the body.
