Asperger's and narcolepsy connection?

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I am a female in my late 20s with both Asperger's and narcolepsy. Both of these diagnoses have changed my life enormously and positively and have finally provided answers to so many of the questions that my family, friends and I have about my nature. My question is whether there is any known link between the two. From what I understand, Asperger's in a female, although not rare, is much more unusual than in a male. Narcolepsy is officially diagnosed in fewer than 50,000 people in the United States. Thus the odds of being affected by both conditions seem relatively low to me, although not impossible, which is why I'm very interested to know if anyone else has both, knows someone who has both, or is aware of any connection between the two. Thanks!

I don't know of any connection. Falling asleep is harder for me than almost anyone I know.

I know a guy with Asperger's who has narcolepsy pretty bad. Not sure if there is any connection, though. May just be a coincidence.

There is no connection. There is a certain co-morbidity to depression, ADHD and there is possibly a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, but narcolepsy isn't very common - with or without ASD.

In fact, if you read the forums you'll find at least 3-4 threads from the last 2 months about sleeping problems.

I don't know if there is a correlation.

Can speak for myself, I grew up having exploding head syndrome, and as an adult I had sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. I also had a long period of time when I fell asleep and straight into REM sleep at all times. So yea, I had symptoms that is seen in narcolepsy.

However I had never had the falling asleep thing and not cataplexy.

I had narcoleptic-like seizures as a younger person/teen. I would go straight into the REM stage and stay there when I slept. Then I couldn't stay awake during the day, and had even fallen asleep standing up. But the problem went away when I became the nocturnal being I truly am (I sleep better and more fully during the day). I don't know why that is, though. I always referred to myself as having narcoleptic-like seizures, not as having narcolepsy, because I don't believe it really was, or else I'd still have the problem, I assume.

Since narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder, I can't see why it can't be at least just as common with ASDs.

I can't shut my inner monologue up long enough to fall asleep, without self-medicating.

As a post script I'm also a night person, have a huge problem keeping a sleep schedule at all and when I do it's with around 6-7 hours delay to what is considered normal. I have severe DSPS. I'm sure I'd have EDS if I was forced to get up at 7 am...

i have trouble falling asleep too. I only like falling asleep while watching tv, so i don't have to think, but it's difficult to sleep while watching tv, because i always want to pay attention to what i am watching, even if it is bad.



I just don't like not having anything on, and having my thoughts just wander, they normally wander to places i would rather have them not wander. During the day its easier, because i always try to do something, but at night its harder


anyone else have a similar problem?

I actually signed up on these boards just to reply to this post.

I'm a 22-year old male with Aspergers and Narcolepsy.

NO, you are not alone, but it does shock me to find other Aspies with Narcolepsy. Talk about a psychological doubly whammy, jeez!

I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS when I was about 6 or 7, later revised to Aspergers Syndome. Good parents and good treatment very young, thank God, so I have yet to meet another person with AS as high-functioning as me (I do not mean that as a brag or an insult, just the sad, honest truth - I would really like to meet someone like me at some point, but hey, I guess we're all unique for a reason). Well, I do acting and am actually at a pretty good BFA program right now, just about to start senior year. It's been really tough, but I savor the challenge.

Anyway, at the age of 20, my sleep started to get really bad. Perpetually exhausted. By 21, I was falling asleep constantly during the day, and going into REM sleep almost instantaneously. I didn't know what the hell was going wrong, I'd tried everything - better sleep habits, blood work, thyroid panel, different meds, energy drinks - nothing was happening. So I did some research and thought "wow, what if I have narcolepsy?" I went to a sleep doctor, did an overnight test and then the day time equivalent, and the doctor told me I had a "profound case of narcolepsy" lol. I fell asleep during all 5 of my day-time naps and went into REM sleep within 1-2 minutes for each one. Really sucks, but I refuse to let it slow me down or prevent me from pursuing the career I want. So thank God, my parents insurance is pretty good and covers Nuvigl which has helped substantially, but LATELY (I've just turned 22) the effectiveness has decreased drastically. I've read the Narcolepsy gets worse with age and peaks at several points during the 20s, and on into the 30s+ and up. Pretty terryfying, but I've made an appointment to see my sleep doctor and consider my options. I don't want to just keep increasing the dosage, but I may have to. I also used to take risperdal for a long time, but then switched to the generic risperidone and didn't like it, now I'm on abilify (only a few months) and not sure if it's helping or hurting. My parents and close friends seem to think the latter.

So that's a lot of detail, but just know you are not alone with that. If you have any coping methods you know of or want to hear some of mine, I would love to share. And I have no doubt that there is a neurological connection. The more I learn I about psychology and neurology, the more I realize how it is all connected. I have aspects of anxiety, depression, OCD, ADD, and even Tourette's (when I was younger) and my sister almost certainly has Borderline Personality Disorder. Are all these things just happening in a vacuum? Of course not. The genetics of my family is "interesting" shall I say?

But I'm glad I'm here, doing what I'm doing, trying to be everything I know I am capable of. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I've had sleeping problems for most of my life.

the most obvious link is that both are treated by Ritalin

"In addition to its use in ADHD treatment, Ritalin is beneficial in treating narcolepsy and some symptoms of autism."

Can't post the link as this is my first post.

My wife is autistic and used to suffer from narcolepsy.

There is a form of narcolepsy that has been called "emotional narcolepsy" that is more obviously linked to autism: