In contrast, most people without narcolepsy take much longer to fall asleep during naps, and if they do fall asleep, they rarely enter REM sleep. This pattern on the MSLT is considered highly suggestive of narcolepsy. If someone has narcolepsy, the MSLT usually reveals that the person falls asleep rapidly (in less than eight minutes on average across the naps) and enters REM sleep during two or more naps. This test is also helpful in identifying any additional sleep disorders (for example, sleep apnea or periodic limb movements in sleep) that could contribute to poor quality sleep. The polysomnogram may also show that an individual dozes off in less than five minutes or has greater-than-normal amounts of light non-REM sleep, but these phenomena are not decisive for a diagnosis. However, about one-third of patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy will enter REM sleep within 15 minutes after falling asleep, and this is considered very supportive of a diagnosis of narcolepsy. In people with narcolepsy, the overnight polysomnogram is often normal. ![]() If someone has a tendency to routinely sleep later than 8 a.m., the doctor may recommend changes to the sleep schedule or timing of the sleep tests. For this, the patient is asked to wear a device resembling a wristwatch that records body movements to estimate amounts of sleep. During this period the doctor might also want to measure a patient's activity using a technique known as wrist-based actigraphy. Download the printable Sleep Diary (PDF) to track your sleeping patterns. A doctor may request that a patient keep a sleep diary for one to two weeks before the tests to be certain that insufficient sleep is not a contributing factor. It is important to obtain enough sleep before the tests. The MSLT is done the day after the polysomnogram so a doctor can determine whether the prior night’s sleep could be affecting the daytime naps. Every two hours, the patient is given an opportunity to sleep for 20 minutes or more. It is a series of five scheduled naps spread across the day. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test is often the most important test for diagnosing narcolepsy. In people with narcolepsy, the polysomnogram is done to evaluate the amount and quality of nighttime sleep and to look for any evidence of an additional sleep disorder (for example, sleep apnea or periodic limb movements in sleep). Testing usually consists of an overnight stay in a sleep laboratory for a test called a polysomnogram, followed the next day by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (commonly known as the MSLT).Ī polysomnogram is a recording of brain waves, eye movements, muscle tone, and breathing across a night of sleep. These tests are essential to provide clear evidence of sleepiness, to examine the pattern of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, and to determine whether other disorders might be contributing to a patient’s symptoms. If a doctor suspects narcolepsy, he or she will likely recommend sleep studies.
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