Sleep disorders - NARCOLEPSY

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what predispose an individual to narcolepsy?
genetic variations on chromosome 6
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what do these variations cause?
an increased risk of an auto-immune response to the production of hypocretin.
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what is hypocretin?
hypocretin is a neurotransmitter which regulates arousal, wakefullness and appetite.
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what do people with narcolepsy have?
they have vastly reduced numbers of neurons in their brain producing hypocretin.
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What is an IDA point for this explanation?
biologically determinist
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why is it bioloigcally determinist?
it states that those with the genetic variation will be predisposed to narcolepsy, this is a biological cause so people have no control over their predisposition to developing narcolepsy.
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Name three pieces of research
Lin et al, Ripley and Mignot
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what did Lin find?
that dogs who suffered from narcolepsy had a mutation on a gene on chromosome 12 which disrupted how hypocretin was processed, this has also been found in humans.
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How does this research by Lin support the explanation?
it shows narcolepsy stems from a disruption of the production of hypocretin and it shows that in dogs narcolepsy is linked to a genetic mutation.
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What did Ripley find?
that levels of hypocretin in narcoleptic patients were much lower than levels measured in a control group.
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how does this research by Ripley support the theory?
it shows that levels of hypocretin must be linked to narcolepsy, however 5 of the narcoleptics had higher levels which does not fit the explanation.
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what did Mignot find?
that narcolepsy does not run in families nor is it concurrent in twins, also low levels of hypocretin in patients with narcolepsy.
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how does this research by Mignot support the explanation?
it provides very limites support, it contradicts the role of genetics, but supports the role of hypocretin. although what remains unclear is what causes the abnormal levels of hypocretin.
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what else could explain the abnormalities regarding levels of hypocretin?
brain injury, infection, diet , stress and auto-immjne attack.
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What was good about the Ripley study? (AO3)
there was a high degree of internal validity, he used a biological measure of hypocretin in a lab environment using app. equipment. using control groups allows concs. to be made therefore strong support for the explanation
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What was an issue with the Ripley study? (AO3)
the results were not 100%, if it is purely biological then the results hsould have been 100%.
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what are the practical applications of the research into narcolepsy? (wider evaluation)
it is used to develop treatments for sleep disorders, including narcolepsy. companies develop drugs that affect hypocretin receptors.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

what do these variations cause?

Back

an increased risk of an auto-immune response to the production of hypocretin.

Card 3

Front

what is hypocretin?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

what do people with narcolepsy have?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is an IDA point for this explanation?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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