Narcolepsy Type 1: Should We Only Target Hypocretin Receptor 2?

Abstract

Nearly 25 years have passed since the ground-breaking discovery that hypocretin deficiency underlies human narcolepsy with cataplexy. Over time, it has become increasingly evident that hypocretin deficiency goes beyond the conventional core symptoms, or pentad, traditionally associated with narcolepsy. The emergence of hypocretin receptor 2 agonists presents an exciting opportunity, prompting us to explore the role of receptor 2 in the complete spectrum of NT1 symptoms. In this review, several clinical manifestations beyond the core symptoms will be discussed. We will outline what is currently known about the involvement of hypocretin receptors to reflect on what we expect with current knowledge from treatment with specific receptor agonists.

Keywords

• hypocretin
• orexin
• narcolepsy