Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Bacterial Translocation Hypothesized in Type 1 Narcolepsy Pathogenesis

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurological disorder marked by severe drowsiness and cataplexy, stemming from irreversible loss of orexin/hypocretin neurons in the hypothalamus. While an autoimmune origin is suspected, the precise trigger for this neuronal destruction remains unclear. Previous studies have identified gut microbiota dysbiosis in NT1 patients, suggesting an environmental role. However, the link between this dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation in NT1 has not been explored.