What are the three criteria for diagnosing narcolepsy?

The correct criteria for diagnosing narcolepsy primarily includes the presence of cataplexy episodes, a deficiency in hypocretin (also known as orexin), and abnormal results from sleep studies, specifically a nocturnal sleep study and a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) that confirm excessive daytime sleepiness.

Cataplexy is a hallmark symptom of narcolepsy, characterized by sudden muscle weakness often triggered by strong emotions. The presence of hypocretin deficiency is significant as this neuropeptide plays a critical role in regulating sleep-wake cycles and is found to be deficient in individuals with narcolepsy type 1. The testing that generally accompanies these assessments includes nocturnal sleep studies that show disrupted sleep patterns, often coupled with a MSLT, indicating abnormally short sleep latency during the day.

In contrast, the other options do not fully encompass the specific criteria used in the diagnosis of narcolepsy. While cognitive assessments or sleep apnea tests may be part of a broader medical evaluation, they are not central to diagnosing narcolepsy. Similarly, insomnia episodes and excessive daytime sleepiness do not specifically identify narcolepsy without the context of cataplexy and hypocretin levels. Therefore, the combination of cataplexy