By Amanda Freeman, PhD | Project volunteer
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a rare neurological disorder with symptoms of excessive sleep(iness) and sleep inertia. There is no test that can diagnose the disorder with certainty and there are no FDA approved treatments. As a result there is an unmet clinical need for people with hypersomnia. Due to a lack of a specific biomarker, diagnosis, therefore, can take decades, treatments are experimental, and the disabling effects of symptoms have a negative emotional, social and financial impact for people with hypersomnia and their loved ones.
The Hypersomnia Foundation strives to improve the lives of people with idiopathic hypersomnia and related disorders by advocating on their behalf, providing support, educating the public and healthcare professionals, raising awareness, and funding research into effective treatments, better diagnostic tools, and, ultimately, a cure for these debilitating conditions.
As part of this mission the Hypersomnia Foundation is working with Dr. Amanda Freeman to create a two part series titled GABA 101 - part 1 and part 2. Dr. Freeman earned her PhD in Neuroscience at Emory University for research working with a team that have identified a novel neuroanatomical pathway that linkes dopamine to sleep regulatory circuits. She collaborated with this team of clinicians and basic researchers to discern the mechanism underlying GABA-related primary hypersomnia. The recent identification that hypersomnia may be caused in many cases by an endogenous peptide that accumulates in the brain and mimics the actions of sedatives and anesthetics, has attracted considerable attention since its discovery in 2012.
The GABA 101 - part 1 and 2 series, is being produced as part of the Hypersomnia Foundation's programs to increase awareness and education in primary hypersomnia and will be placed on its website for all interested viewers. The script for part 2 has been written, and the audio/video aligning with Dr. Freeman's Power Point Presention has been completed. This project is in the vetting and editing phase in preparation of launch on the website.
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