DNA Narcolepsy Risk Test
$195.00
If you experience difficulty staying awake during the day, you may have narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder caused by a disruption in the balance between sleep and wake cycles. Take this test to determine if you have a genetic predisposition to narcolepsy, which may be contributing to your involuntary daytime naps.
- Tests the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant
- Individuals with two copies of the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele are at an increased risk of 7 – 25 times higher.
- Collection method: Buccal swabs
- Private and confidential online results
Description
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that is identified by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrolled bouts of falling asleep during the day. This type of daytime sleepiness should not be confused with a normal afternoon energy lull, as narcolepsy is caused by neurological abnormalities rather than just lack of sleep or caffeine.
Narcolepsy affects approximately 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5000 people, but only around 25% of cases are accurately diagnosed, with many individuals being misdiagnosed with psychiatric or emotional disorders. Additionally, family members of affected individuals have a 20X to 40X higher risk of developing narcolepsy. A genetic analysis that detects the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele linked with narcolepsy can be a valuable tool in conjunction with other clinical symptoms for an accurate diagnosis of the condition.
Description
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that is identified by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrolled bouts of falling asleep during the day. This type of daytime sleepiness should not be confused with a normal afternoon energy lull, as narcolepsy is caused by neurological abnormalities rather than just lack of sleep or caffeine.
Narcolepsy affects approximately 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5000 people, but only around 25% of cases are accurately diagnosed, with many individuals being misdiagnosed with psychiatric or emotional disorders. Additionally, family members of affected individuals have a 20X to 40X higher risk of developing narcolepsy. A genetic analysis that detects the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele linked with narcolepsy can be a valuable tool in conjunction with other clinical symptoms for an accurate diagnosis of the condition.
Our testing laboratory is AABB Accredited, ISO/IEC 17025 Certified and participates in the CAP proficiency testing program.
Technical Info
- Two copies of HLA-DQ1b*06:02 = 7X – 25X increased risk of narcolepsy (or potentially up to 250X increased risk!)
- One copy of HLA-DQB1*06:02 + an alternative HLA-DQB1 allele = 3X increased risk (depending on the risk or protective affect of the alternative allele)
- Absence of HLA-DQB1*06:02 = Low risk of narcolepsy
Genetics alone cannot be blamed for causing narcolepsy, as research shows that 15 to 25 percent of individuals who do not have the condition still carry the HLA-DQB1*06:02 variant. Furthermore, there are multiple other variants of the HLA-DQB1 gene that offer some protection against narcolepsy, making the assessment of risk more complex.
