The question assumes that narcolepsy is hurtful. Essentially, narcolepsy is a brain related illness that involves sleep. According to umm.edu, “All people with narcolepsy experience excessive sleepiness during the day. Most also experience sudden but temporary muscle weakness (called cataplexy), usually brought on by strong emotions. Excessive sleepiness during the day may be characterized by the following behaviors: Patients typically have periods of drowsiness every 3 or 4 hours that usually end in short naps.”
So, the illness is not hurting the brain necessarily. It is caused by, “A deficiency in the neurotransmitter hypocretin (orexin) has been implicated in the cases of narcolepsy with cataplexy, the most common form of the condition.”
It can be caused by various other elements, “Narcolepsy has a genetic component and tends to run in families. An estimated 8 – 10% of people with narcolepsy have a close relative who has the disorder. An individual with a family member who has narcolepsy is 20 – 40 times more likely to have narcolepsy, compared to a person with no family history of the disease.
However, genetics are not the only factor involved in narcolepsy. Narcolepsy most likely involves a combination of genetics and one or more environmental triggers, such as infection, trauma, hormonal changes, immune system problems, or stress.”
As I researched narcolepsy, I found it very difficult to find information and perhaps that is because such a small number of people are diagnosed with the illness, “Narcolepsy affects about 1 in 2,000 people. Experts estimate that around 135,000 – 200,000 Americans have narcolepsy, but the number may be higher. Only about 25% of people who have narcolepsy are actually diagnosed with the disorder. Patients are often mistakenly diagnosed with other conditions, such as psychiatric or emotional problems. Many patients wait decades before receiving a proper diagnosis.”
The illness does have some effects on the brain, but not to the point of causing damage, “Some studies report that people with narcolepsy have problems with memory, thinking, and attention. Whether these problems are more likely to be due to tiredness and episodes of sleepiness than to brain abnormalities is not clear.”
Part of the problem is that the illness is so rarely diagnosed, “Although narcolepsy is a physical disorder, doctors are still very likely to misdiagnose patients as having psychological problems. For most patients, narcolepsy is not diagnosed for up to 10 – 15 years after their symptoms first began. To determine specific sleep disorders, the doctor will take a medical and family history. The patient should tell the doctor about any medications the patient takes.”
Without proper diagnosis, it is difficult to for those with the illness to get the help they need. Furthermore, it makes our knowledge of the illness more limited. “Ruling out Psychological Disorders. In one study, 40% of patients who actually had narcolepsy had been diagnosed incorrectly with some psychological or psychiatric problem. Certainly, patients with narcolepsy have emotional difficulties because of the condition, and it is often difficult, particularly for a non-specialist, to detect the physical problem.”