DNA Narcolepsy Test
$240.00
Do you struggle to stay awake throughout the day?
You may have narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder caused by disrupting the balance between sleep-awake cycles. Take this DNA test to find out whether your involuntary daytime naps may be due to narcolepsy.
- Detects the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant
- People with two copies of HLA-DQB1*06:02 are at 7X to 25X increased risk
- 100% private and confidential online results
- Painless sample collection
DESCRIPTION
What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day. This excessive daytime sleepiness should not be mistaken for the afternoon slump, since neurological defects are responsible for narcolepsy, rather than just sleep deprivation or lack of caffeine!
How Common is Narcolepsy?
Between 1 in 2000 and 1 in 5000 people are affected by narcolepsy. However, only about 25% of the cases are correctly diagnosed, and often narcoleptics are mistakenly diagnosed with psychiatric or emotional problems. Family members of an affected individual also have a 20X – 40X increased risk of developing narcolepsy.
This genetic analysis detects the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele associated with narcolepsy. It is a useful tool, in conjunction with other clinical symptoms, for an accurate narcolepsy diagnosis.
THE GENETICS
Around 90-99% of people with narcolepsy have a variant of the HLA-DQB1 gene known as the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele.
Tested Variants and Narcolepsy Risk
- HLA-DQB1*06:02 (two copies): 7-25 times higher risk of narcolepsy (possibly up to 250 times higher risk!)
- HLA-DQB1*06:02 (one copy) + an alternative HLA-DQB1 allele: 3 times higher risk (depending on the protective or risk effects of the alternative allele)
- Absence of HLA-DQB1*06:02: low risk of narcolepsy
However, 15-25% of people who do not have narcolepsy also carry the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant, indicating that genetics is not the sole contributor to narcolepsy. Multiple other variants of the HLA-DQB1 gene exist, and many of these offer some protection from narcolepsy, which makes the risk analyses more complex.
SYMPTOMS OF NARCOLEPSY
How many risk factors for diabetes do you have?
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (present in 100% of affected individuals)
- Cataplexy – a sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone (present in 70% of affected individuals)
- Sleep paralysis and/or vivid hallucinations (present in 10-20% of affected individuals)
- Microsleep (sleep episodes that last only a few seconds)
- Nighttime wakefulness
- Atonia (loss of muscle strength)
- Involuntary leg muscle contractions
- Rapid entry into REM sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (present in 100% of affected individuals)
- Cataplexy – a sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone (present in 70% of affected individuals)
- Sleep paralysis and/or vivid hallucinations (present in 10-20% of affected individuals)
- Microsleep (sleep episodes that last only a few seconds)
- Nighttime wakefulness
- Atonia (loss of muscle strength)
- Involuntary leg muscle contractions
- Rapid entry into REM sleep
HOW IT WORKS
Step 1: Order test kit online
Step 2: Collect DNA sample using a painless mouth swab, and mail to the lab in the provided return envelope
Step 3: Receive your results online