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PubMed · 1338429

A perspective on narcolepsy.

M Mamelak
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Abstract

Neurochemical analyses were performed on brains obtained at post mortem from 3 patients with narcolepsy. The salient findings were an increase in noradrenergic and serotonergic neuronal activity, a decrease in dopaminergic neuronal activity, and, in 2 of the 3 brains, a decrease in the number of alpha-1-noradrenergic receptors in the frontal cortex and amygdala. A pathophysiological model for narcolepsy is developed on the basis of these findings. The neurobiology of narcolepsy is compared with that of depression. The role of MHC--class II gene products in the genesis of narcolepsy is discussed. Some treatment implications follow.

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Brain ChemistryCerebral CortexGenes, MHC Class IIHumansNarcolepsyReceptors, AdrenergicReceptors, SerotoninSleep, REMJournal Article

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M Mamelak. A perspective on narcolepsy.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1338429/

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