Cataplexy is one of the main symptoms of narcolepsy type 1. It involves sudden and brief muscle weakness that’s triggered by strong emotions, like laughter. It can affect only parts of your body (like your face) or your whole body.
Autoimmune disorders
A loss of cells that produce orexin may be related to dysfunction in the immune system. In autoimmune disorders, the body attacks its own healthy tissue by mistake. There is increasing evidence that type 1 narcolepsy may be caused by the immune system attacking cells that produce orexin after exposure to a virus with similar surface proteins.
Family history
While potential genetic links aren’t fully understood, around 10% of people with type 1 narcolepsy have a close relative with similar symptoms. More than 85% of narcolepsy patients with cataplexy share the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA DQB1*0602. Comparatively, this allele is found in 12% to 38% of the general population.
Brain injury
Some people with type 1 narcolepsy lose orexin-containing brain cells due to brain injuries, tumors, and other acquired diseases. Cataplexy isn’t always linked to narcolepsy. Around 30% of cataplexy episodes are related to other disorders, including:
Niemann-Pick type C Disease (NPC)
NPC is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the body’s inability to transport lipids such as cholesterol within cells, leading to accumulations of fatty substances in body tissues. People diagnosed with NPC may experience a variety of neurologic symptoms including cognitive impairment, dementia, and cataplexy. Information are gotten from SleepFoundation.
And finally, Cataplexy is a transient, sudden loss of voluntary muscle control brought on by a strong emotional trigger such as laughing or excitement. Cataplexy is almost always associated with narcolepsy. There is no cure, but education, sleep hygiene practices, and prescription medication can help people with this condition enjoy a better quality of life.