Fatal Familial Insomnia - Causes And Effects
Author: Abhishek Agarwal
This is fundamentally a hereditary disease, passed on from parents to their offspring and so far is one of the most uncommon among the various types of sleeping disorders. It has been diagnosed only in 28 families in the world till now which possess the dominant gene for it, where the chances of it occurring among the offspring of the parent is of 50% and the chances of it being cured are nil. The disease is initially prevalent among people between the age group of 30 to 60 and runs through a cycle of 17 to 18 months. The disease consists of 4 stages - The first stage is where the levels of insomnia are increased leading to hyperventilation and panic attacks which also results in a range of phobias which lasts for about 4 months. The second stage is a more prolonged period of about 5 months where the sufferer experiences hallucinations and the panic attacks turn more conspicuous. The 3rd stage secures complete lack of sleep lasting for 3 months, followed by a considerable loss of weight and the final stage is the fourth stage where the patient is subjected to dementia and is irresponsive and mute for over a period of 6 months. For a more detailed overview of the disease, apply for elite writings in this way you will be able to read useful information and cover a range of theoretical material.
The disease is associated with Alzheimer's where there is the similarity of slow and gradual memory loss. The only difference between both is the time span which is much shorter than that of a patient suffering from Alzheimer. The sufferer deals with the disease in a time span of just a year whereas an Alzheimer patient goes through the same process but for a prolonged number of years.
Sleeping pills are of no use and neither does non-medicinal therapy help to treat the illness in any way. Doctors have not yet figured a method of treatment nor have they found a reason as to why it is fatal. Medical science continue to research for means of eradicating the problem.
Perhaps, the reason as to why the disease is not given enough importance or recognized as regular insomnia is because it is so rare. Fatal Familial disorder has not been given sufficient attention or qualified for treatment as it occurs only in very few numbers of people and therefore is not eligible for procuring treatment compared to 60 million others who suffer from similar kind of insomnia but of a more common form. This uncommon type of disorder needs to be brought to notice to the medical world and emphasis should be laid upon the ways of finding treatment such as effectively testing the genetic back round of the affected families which would be helpful to track the disease through the generations and keep a certain kind of genetic record for the offsprings who displace the genes of their parents.
Medical science is sure to find a cure to aid the affected people with the many advancements cropping up in the field. Along with extensive research, doctors will finally be able to find a cure to help all those being deprived of a peaceful good night's sleep.
What are the chances of someone dying from FFI (fatal familial insomnia) and/or CJD?
Are they rare? What is the chance of someone dying from these prion diseases
If you have one of the two diseases, your chance of death is basically 100%, as they are incurable. FFI is exceedingly rare, with only ~100 patients in the world; it’s also an inherited disease, so unless you are in one of the affected families, it’s not even an issue. The prevalence of CJD is about 1 in 1 million people – this one is transmissible, usually by eating brain tissue from an affected animal (the whole mad cow scare), or otherwise coming into contact with affected brain tissue (if you’re a pathologist or something, perhaps). Again, the food supply now is extremely safe, so it’s still not something to lose sleep over – if it happens, it’s just incredibly bad luck.
Could I have Fatal Familial Insomnia OR Sporadic Fatal Insomnia?
I’m a 17 year old male and have been suffering from sudden onset insomnia for about a month now.
how much sleep are you getting? if you are concerned you really should see a doctor.
Can sleep be induced in Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)?
FFI is a disease that causes a person to be unable to sleep due to some sort of genetic mutation and miscommunication in the brain. The affected person eventually dies of exhaustion and health deterioration caused by lack of sleep. To try and allow sleep for the affected person, couldn’t the doctor, physician, or other aide, induce sleep? Ex. anesthetics?
Nope. The brain is incapable of sleep.
Sleep is more than being unconscious. A lot of things happen during sleep that are necessary to live. But those things do not happen in a person with FFI.
Is fatal familial insomnia a common disease?
What are the odds of someone developing fatal familial insomnia?
As far as I know nobody in my family has it, but not all members of my family managed to live until like 70. For example grandma died at the age of 64 and grandpa at the age of 66, from cancer and a heart attack. I have a heavy insomnia episode going on now, WITH some FFI sympthoms…….
What are the odds I may have it? I am so scared and I’m 20
Do I or will I get sporadic familial insomnia?
Ok I know I thought I had fatal familial insomnia, but now I’m freaking out that I have sporadic familial insomnia. Last night it took me about 25 minutes to fall asleep, and I’m really worried I won’t be able to sleep. I’m worried because it doesn’t have to run in your family to get it, it can just pop up and happen. I’m 17 years old, and I’m really worried.
FFI is extraordinarily rare. You’re fine on that one. SFI is just about as rare so I’m betting you’re fine there too. Statistically it’s WAY more likely that you’ll be struck by a meteor while being electrocuted by lightning as you’re running from Bigfoot.
I did a quick calculation to determine the probability. The results are roughly…. 1:42000000.