Other major symptoms of narcolepsy include cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.Ĭataplexy is when the individual experiences a sudden loss of muscle tone while awake. Narcolepsy is a chronic disease linked to extreme tiredness during the day. Therefore, the loss of nerve cells in the thalamus can result in insomnia symptoms. Furthermore, the decline in neurons is centered in the thalamus brain region – the area responsible for maintaining the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The impact on the neurons causes a chain reaction that impairs the autonomic nervous system, the part of the body responsible for involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, and sweating. A buildup of these malformed prions can cause a breakdown of nerve cells, which is the basis for the disease. The PRNP gene provides the coding information for the production of the prion protein in the brain, and when this gene is mutated, it can lead to abnormal prion proteins. Though it is a rare disease, Fatal Familial Insomnia is deadly for those who acquire it.Ī mutation in the PRNP gene is what causes Fatal Familial Insomnia. Additional symptoms of fatal insomnia include concentration problems, short-term memory loss, extensive weight loss, poor coordination, high blood pressure, inconsistent body temperature, and excessive sweating and tearing. Fatal Familial Insomnia is an inherited neurological disorder that causes a person to exhibit increased insomnia symptoms and eventually lose the ability to stay asleep.