Science of Narcolepsy
Julie Flygare Represents Narcolepsy at NIH & NIH’s Funding of Hypocretin Orexin Agonists for Narcolepsy Treatment
The 36th meeting of the Sleep Disorder Research Advisory Board (SDRAB) took place on Feb. 25 – 26, 2013 on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Campus in Bethesda, MD. The current Board is comprised of five sleep researchers and four patient representatives, including yours truly, the REM Runner! Ad-hoc participants include Michael Twery, Ph.D.,…
Read MoreDiscovery Channel Narcolepsy Video
Here’s the video from the Discovery Channel’s recent Narcolepsy Program (my spotlight begins just after 16 minutes). I especially enjoyed Dr. Joseph Lieberman’s insight and the other patient, Kelly’s story. Narcolepsy: New Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment will air on the Discovery Channel again on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at 8 a.m. Download the podcast and…
Read MoreNarcolepsy on Discovery Channel Featuring Julie Flygare
This Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 8 a.m. (EST) – Discovery Channel airs Narcolepsy: New Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment, featuring my story, along with a panel of experts and a second patient perspective. The program will air a second time on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at 8 a.m. (EST). It was an honor to work…
Read MoreSleep’s Choice: Living with Narcolepsy’s Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Every day, at least once, but usually twice, my head gets heavy, as if a weight sits on my skull, and I know, right then, that sleep is coming. If I don’t put my head down immediately, the heaviness only gets heavier. My joints begin to ache and a wave of nausea comes over me.…
Read MoreThe View From Dreamworld
Did you know that the boundaries between dreaming and consciousness are broken down in the brains of people with narcolepsy? I experience my night dreams as real as reality. So during the day, I chase down my life dreams. Current dreams I’m chasing: the steepest road race in America and my memoir. Is it selfish…
Read MoreNBC Washington Features Julie Flygare in Narcolepsy Report
Just 15 minutes into the 5 o’clock news today, NBC Washington featured an in-depth report about my experience with narcolepsy and cataplexy. Please share to help raise awareness! Watch here: View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com. Description:“Julie Flygare had the world in the palm of her hand. She was in law school, she was an avid…
Read MoreInfluenza A (including H1N1 infection) May Trigger Narcolepsy
What causes narcolepsy? I wasn’t born with narcolepsy but developed it in my late teens to early 20’s. Evidence continues to suggest that influenza A (including H1N1) and other winter airway infections play a significant role in narcolepsy onset. However, the role of H1N1 vaccination is a different story, suggests a recent study led by…
Read MoreFollow Your Dreams: REM Sleep, Intuition and Oprah Magazine
I’ve learned to trust my “gut feeling” in sticky situations. Yet how is it that my body’s natural response is smarter than my well-educated rational mind?! This month, O: The Oprah Magazine answers this question in a fascinating article, “The Science of Intuition: An eye-opening guide to your sixth sense,” by Annie Murphy Paul (August…
Read MoreInsomnia Drug Develops from Narcolepsy Research
What do people with insomnia and people with narcolepsy have in common? Trick question! I don’t know, but we may be coming closer to an answer. In the late 90’s, narcolepsy researchers made a significant breakthrough in successfully identifying the brain cells, called hypocretin (or orexin), that go missing in those that develop narcolepsy. These…
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