What causes narcolepsy..how do you getit.?

The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown. Studies using gene markers have indicated that the disorder may be genetic. One out of 10 people with narcolepsy and cataplexy has a close relative with the same symptoms. This suggests that some people may inherit the tendency to develop narcolepsy.

A small group of neurons in the brain has been implicated in producing transitions from sleep to wakefulness and vice-versa. People with narcolepsy may have fewer of these neurons or they may have been damaged.

Research suggests that the cause of narcolepsy is a lack of the chemical in the brain called hypocretin. This chemical stimulates brain cells and helps promote wakefulness. It is not known why hypocretin is missing in people who have narcolepsy. Some factors that may work together to cause a lack of hypocretin include:

Infection
Loss of certain brain cells due to brain injury, toxins, and/or the body鈥檚 destruction of its own tissues (autoimmune reaction)
Changes in hormones
Stress

you are born with it. it is a condition that makes you suddenly fall asleep.

Many things can cause narcolepsy. My grandmother got it from drinking too much for many years and damaging her brain.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day. These sudden sleep attacks may occur during any type of activity at any time of day.

The cause of narcolepsy is not known; however, some experts think narcolepsy may be caused by a deficiency in the production of a chemical called hypocretin by the brain. In addition, researchers have discovered abnormalities in various parts of the brain involved in regulating sleep which seem to contribute to symptom development.

According to experts, it is likely narcolepsy involves multiple factors that interact to cause neurological dysfunction and sleep disturbances.