Many people experience daytime sleepiness despite getting a good night’s sleep, and new research suggests that this may be due to a more common sleep disorder than previously thought.
Idiopathic hypersomnia is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme daytime tiredness, excessive sleep, difficulty waking up, and disorientation upon waking. This sets it apart from the more well-known narcolepsy, where individuals may feel tired but do not sleep excessively.
Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that idiopathic hypersomnia may be more common than previously estimated and is often associated with other neurological disorders like epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The study analyzed data from sleep studies and found that the prevalence of idiopathic hypersomnia is 1.5%.
The study involved 792 participants, all of whom completed nighttime and daytime sleep studies. Participants were surveyed about their daytime sleepiness, fatigue, nap time, and sleep time, and those with idiopathic hypersomnia had higher scores indicating severe sleepiness. The researchers also found that idiopathic hypersomnia can be chronic but may resolve in some cases over time.
The researchers emphasize the need for more efforts to identify, diagnose, and treat people with idiopathic hypersomnia, particularly among unemployed individuals who have higher rates of the disorder. Further research is needed to uncover the causes and develop new treatments for this sleep disorder.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
