SomnusNooze e-newsletter
News, stories and updates from the world of sleep
SomnusNooze topics: Journal article summaries
Diagnosing Hypersomnias: The Blood Hypocretin Mystery
The current gold standard diagnostic test to differentiate narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) from other hypersomnias is to measure the level of hypocretin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The procedure to take a sample of CSF, called a spinal tap, is uncomfortable... read >
Diagnosing Hypersomnias Differently—A European Proposal
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to diagnose hypersomnias? Maybe you’ve wondered if a narcolepsy type 2 diagnosis is actually idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) or vice-versa? Have you questioned whether the diagnosis is IH “with long sleep time”... read >
Anxiety, Depression, and Function in Individuals With Chronic Physical Conditions: A Longitudinal Analysis
Separately identifying and treating anxiety can be helpful for people who have chronic conditions. This is one of the main conclusions of a refereed journal article, which we’ve summarized at the request of the HF Patient Advisory and Advocacy Council... read >
New Research Published on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Hypersomnias
While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been used extensively to treat many disorders, including insomnia, until now little research has been done to develop similar treatments for idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and narcolepsy. Dr. Jason Ong, a member... read >
Autonomic Dysfunction and Idiopathic Hypersomnia Study Produces Results
A recurring theme we see from people with idiopathic hypersomnia is an interest in finding others who share symptoms beyond sleepiness. This helps connect patients with common experiences and researchers on the path to finding causes and new and improved... read >
Differences in Hypersomnia Disorder Symptoms Among African Americans
Do people of different races/ethnicities experience the same hypersomnia symptoms? This is still an open question, but one study found that African Americans with narcolepsy are less likely to have cataplexy, even when hypocretin levels are low. The... read >
Thinking of Requesting Work Accommodations? Your Mood and Confidence Matter
A summary of a refereed journal article was written at the request of the HF Patient Advisory and Advocacy Council (PAAC) because of its relevance to those with hypersomnias. It highlights some of the issues regarding the complex process of requesting... read >
IH Symptom and Treatment Insights From the HF Patient Registry at CoRDS
Since March 2015, over 2,300 people have joined the HF International Patient Registry at CoRDS. We now have a valuable dataset for researchers to study and a new research paper has just been published: “Disease Symptomatology and Response to Treatment... read >
Do I Have IH or NT2?
If you are uncertain whether you have idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) or narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), you are not alone. Sleep doctors are also asking this question, as sleep study results on the same patient often alternate between IH and NT2 diagnoses. Sleep... read >
Challenges to Seeking Appropriate Support for Unmet Needs in Neurological Disorders
This summary of a refereed journal article was written at the request of the HF Patient Advisory and Advocacy Council (PAAC) because of its relevance to those with hypersomnias. The findings of the Australian-based study that is the basis for the article... read >