Fatal insomnia

Fatal Insomnia

Fatal insomnia is a rare sleep disorder that results in sleep deprivation to the point of death.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfeɪtəl ɪnˈsɒmniə/

Etymology

The term "fatal insomnia" is derived from the Latin words "fatalis" meaning "deadly" and "insomnia" meaning "inability to sleep".

Definition

Fatal insomnia is a rare, incurable prion disease characterized by progressive sleep loss, leading to dementia and death within a few months to a few years. It is divided into two types: sporadic fatal insomnia (sFI) and familial fatal insomnia (FFI).

Symptoms

The symptoms of fatal insomnia may include:

• Insomnia
• Hallucinations
• Dementia
• Ataxia (loss of physical coordination)
• Dysautonomia (malfunction of the autonomic nervous system)

Causes

Fatal insomnia is caused by a mutation in the PRNP gene, which leads to the production of an abnormal form of the prion protein. The abnormal protein builds up in the brain, forming plaques that lead to the symptoms of the disease.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of fatal insomnia is based on the presence of characteristic symptoms, a family history of the disease, and confirmed by genetic testing.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for fatal insomnia. Treatment is focused on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life.

Related Terms

• Prion
• Sleep disorder
• Insomnia
• Dementia
• Ataxia
• Dysautonomia

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Fatal insomnia
• Wikipedia's article - Fatal insomnia

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