Narcolepsy and Genetics  In 1999, a gene for narcolepsy was isolated. Dr. Dement, of the Stanford Sleep Disorder Center, has maintained a colony of narcoleptic dogs for over 20 years. Genes that code for an abnormal neural structure in the brain were found in these dogs. These structure seems to be the receptor for a newly discovered neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter recepter is found in the parts of the brain that were already thought to be mediated by the biological clock. This gene is recessive in animals. Human narcolepsy is doubtless more complicated. But in recent spinal exams of narcoleptics, they were found not to have this neuro-transmitter. Other interesting resources:
| 
