Published on: 6/20/2025
What are the different types of narcolepsy and how are they classified?
There are two types of narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy type 1 involves excessive daytime sleepiness as well as cataplexy (episodes of muscle weakness when you are awake). Narcolepsy type 2 does not involve cataplexy.
What brings you in today?
Explanation
Narcolepsy is a disorder that makes people very sleepy during the day. There are two types of narcolepsy, Type 1 and Type 2.
Narcolepsy Type 1: This type is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (which is a sudden loss of muscle control while awake, often triggered by strong emotions like laughter, joy, surprise, or anger). People with narcolepsy type 1 also have low levels of a brain chemical called hypocretin, which helps regulate wakefulness.
Narcolepsy Type 2: People with narcolepsy type 2 also experience excessive daytime sleepiness, but they do not have cataplexy.
Both types can cause people to fall asleep suddenly, even during the day. Scientists believe genetics play a role in narcolepsy, which means it can run in families. If you have concerns about narcolepsy, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider for proper and personalized diagnosis and management. Additional information about narcolepsy is available at https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/narcolepsy/.
(References)
- Bassetti CLA, Adamantidis A, Burdakov D, Han F, Gay S, Kallweit U, et al. (2019). Narcolepsy - clinical spectrum, aetiopathophysiology, .... Nature reviews. Neurology, 31324898.
- Miyagawa T, & Tokunaga K. (2019). Genetics of narcolepsy. Human genome variation, 30652006.
- Monaca C, Franco P, Philip P, & Dauvilliers Y. (2017). French consensus. Type 1 and type 2 Narcolepsy. Revue neurologique, 27838095.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Learn more about diseases
Was this page helpful?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.