News, Stories and Updates From the World of Sleep
SomnusNooze Topics: Hypersomnias

Ask the Doctor: Is There a Link Between Albinism and Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH)?
Is there a link between albinism and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH)? Are GABAA receptor responses involved in both albinism and IH? How have these responses been measured in scientific studies and what are the differences in the mechanisms? We are pleased to... read >

In Case You Missed It! – October/November 2019
The holiday season is upon us and our schedules quickly fill up! Keep up to date with the news we’ve shared via social media with the sleep disorder community since our last “In Case You Missed It!” So don’t worry if you’ve missed anything –... read >

Ask the Doctor: Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome or IH?
What is delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and how is it diagnosed? Should it be ruled out before a diagnosis of IH is made? We are very honored to have Thanh Dang-Vu, MD, PhD, a neurologist at Concordia University in Montreal, and a distinguished member... read >

Study Reveals “Default-Mode Network” Is Different in People with IH
HF MAB member Dr. Thien Thanh Dang-Vu Have you ever wondered whether your cognition and memory are affected by your IH? A new study reveals the answer is “YES.” In a recent study by HF MAB member Dr. Thien Thanh Dang-Vu and his colleagues,... read >

Ask the Doctor: IH, CFS and Fibromyalgia – How Do They Differ?
Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MSc, of Emory University, and the Chair of our MAB What’s the difference between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH)? How do they differ from fibromyalgia? And how many people with IH also have CFS or... read >

Ask the Doctor: Can Jet Lag Be Reduced in People with IH?
Can the effects of jet lag be reduced in people with IH? We are very honored to have Thanh Dang-Vu, MD, PhD, a neurologist at Concordia University in Montreal, and a distinguished member of our Medical Advisory Board, answer this question. QUESTION: Are... read >

In Case You Missed It! – July 2019
Keep up to date with the news we’ve shared via social media in this month’s “In Case You Missed It!” URGENT: Health authorities warn that modafinil may cause fetal harm. CONGRATULATIONS: Dr. Caroline Maness of Emory University is the first... read >

Ask the Doctor: What Are the Emory Sleep Researchers Looking for in Spinal Fluid?
Why do Emory University’s sleep researchers perform spinal tap procedures on sleepy patients? What is the “sleepy juice” they’re looking for in the spinal fluid? Does it have anything to do with prostaglandins? An expert answers all these... read >

IH Summary Expanded to Include Diagnostic Criteria
It’s often a struggle to describe to others – sometimes even to healthcare providers – the essence of idiopathic hypersomnia. To address this, HF prepared Idiopathic Hypersomnia Standard Characteristics in 2017 and made it available on our... read >

Summary of “Establishing the Objective Sleep Phenotype in Hypersomnolence Disorder [IH] with and without Comorbid Major Depression”
David Plante, MD, PhD, HF MAB member It can be challenging for doctors to distinguish between idiopathic hypersomnia and depression. It is also possible for one patient to have both conditions. Researchers are looking for better ways to tell the... read >