#207 - Insomnia and Narcolepsy: Tired of the Same Old Story

#207 - Insomnia and Narcolepsy: Tired of the Same Old Story

June 8, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of narcolepsy and its similarities to insomnia, highlighting recent research on sleep-wake instability.

Narcolepsy is often described as a disorder of excessive daytime sleepiness, but that description only tells part of the story. Many people living with narcolepsy also struggle with fragmented, restless, and unrefreshing sleep at night; and these symptoms that can look a lot like insomnia. In recent years, researchers have increasingly viewed narcolepsy as a disorder of sleep-wake instability, where the boundaries between wakefulness, non-REM sleep, and REM sleep become less secure. Understan...

People in this episode

Host: Chris Winter

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Organizations: insomnia, narcolepsy

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