Narcolepsy: the impact of aging, hypocretin deficiency, and years of formal education in olfactory function and abdominal obesity

ABSTRACT

Background: Narcolepsy is a disease resulting from the loss of hypocretin-producing cells or other dysfunctions of the hypocretinergic system. In addition to sleep disorders, affected patients may experience increased weight gain, olfactory changes, and poorer quality of life. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between narcolepsy and weight gain, years of study, sleep parameters, and olfactory dysfunction in patients with narcolepsy type 1 and narcolepsy type 2. Anthropometric, olfactory, socioeducational, and excessive daytime sleepiness evaluations were performed in 77 patients. Results: Greater weight gain and abdominal obesity were observed in patients with type 1 narcolepsy. Patients with higher education level had lower scores of daytime sleepiness, higher scores on the olfactory function test, and lower rates of abdominal obesity. Discussion: Patients with narcolepsy type 1 showed an increased body weight and abdominal obesity when compared to narcolepsy type 2. The patients with a higher schooling level showed a reduction of the daytime sleepiness scores, lower rates of abdominal obesity, and better scores on the olfactory function test. Conclusion: Among all the patients with narcolepsy, the data indicated that aging and hypocretin deficiency are associated with abdominal obesity, while years of study is the variable that mostly influences olfaction function.

RESUMO

Antecedentes: A narcolepsia é resultante da perda de células produtoras de hipocretina ou da disfunção do sistema hipocretinérgico. Além dos distúrbios do sono característicos da doença, os pacientes afetados podem apresentar também aumento de peso, alterações olfatórias e pior qualidade de vida. Métodos: O objetivo do estudo é investigar a relação entre a narcolepsia e o ganho de peso, anos de estudo, parâmetros do sono e a disfunção olfatória em pacientes com narcolepsia tipo 1 e narcolepsia tipo 2. Foram realizadas avaliações antropométricas, do olfato, sociais, educacionais e da sonolência excessiva diurna nos 77 indivíduos participantes da pesquisa. Resultados: Foram observados, nos pacientes com narcolepsia tipo 1, maior ganho de peso e maior frequência de obesidade central. Pacientes com ensino superior apresentaram escores mais baixos de sonolência excessiva diurna, escores mais altos no teste de função olfatória e menores taxas de obesidade central. Discussão: Pacientes com narcolepsia tipo 1 apresentaram maior ganho de peso e obesidade central quando comparados aos com narcolepsia tipo 2. Os pacientes com maior escolaridade apresentaram menores escores de sonolência diurna, de obesidade central e melhores escores no teste da função olfatória. Conclusão: Nos indivíduos com narcolepsia tipo 1 e tipo 2, os dados indicaram que o envelhecimento e a deficiência de hipocretina estão associados à obesidade central, enquanto anos de estudo é a variável que mais influencia na função olfatória.

Keywords:

Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - Hyposmia - Central Obesity - Education - Orexin

Palavras-chave:

Distúrbios do Sono por Sonolência Excessiva - Hiposmia - Obesidade Central - Educação - Orexina

Authors’ contributions:

GMT, MFN, ST, FMC: research idea and study design; GMT, MFN, FMC: data acquisition; GMT, MFN, FMC: data analysis/interpretation; GMT, MFN, FMC: statistical analysis; GMT, MFN, ST, FMC: manuscript drafting or revision.

Publication History

Received: 18 August 2020

Accepted: 16 November 2020

Article published online:
01 June 2023

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