1 Narcolepsy is a condition that makes people fall asleep with no warning.
■ True But it’s more complicated than that. Other symptoms can include temporary muscle paralysis, hallucinations, hot flushes, vivid dreams and, often, difficulty concentrating.
2 Is it real? It’s probably all in the mind.
■ False Scientists believe many cases are caused by an autoimmune response to a particular antibody. The causes of some other cases remain unclear.
3 There is no cure for this condition.
■ True But there are things sufferers can do to minimise the impact it has. Good diet, exercise, taking naps – all these things help.
4 Hardly anyone has narcolepsy.
■ False The condition is rare, but there are about 25,000 sufferers in the UK.