Al-Marsad Newspaper: A neurologist at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Faisal Al-Suwaidan, revealed what is meant by “fatal familial insomnia syndrome”, the reason for its name and the factors that lead to its infection.
Why is it called family?
“Al-Suwaidan” said during his meeting with the “Yahla” program that this disease is severe genetic insomnia and is transmitted between families and by 50% it is transmitted to children, and it is a neurological disease resulting from the death of spongy nerve cells.
He added that: “Insomnia is practically the gathering of minute protein molecules inside the nerve cells in a specific area in the brain, which is the thalamus, which is considered the biological clock of the human body, which creates a balance between sleep and wakefulness. If the thalamus loses its cells, the person gradually loses his ability to sleep over a period of time. It varies from person to person.”
Symptoms of familial insomnia syndrome
He continued: “Being a syndrome, parts of the second nervous system are exposed to cell death, so you find people with this disease suffer from memory loss, and you find an imbalance in the nervous system related to sweating, so they lose the ability to control heart rate and blood pressure, as well as suffer from some psychological problems such as hallucinations and fantasies due to the syndrome.” Sleep deterioration.
rare syndrome
He explained that the fatal familial insomnia syndrome is rare, at a rate of 1 to 1.5 in a million, and in a strong family link such as India with the size of its population density, it may be in 70 families affected by this syndrome.
protection
He continued: “It is possible to combat the problem through pre-marital rehabilitation, pre-marital examinations, and knowledge of the medical history of family members. The onset of the disease occurs after puberty, after the thirties. Indeed, a person has begun his married life and has children.
Not included in the marriage examinations in the Kingdom
He pointed out that this disease is not included in the pre-marital examinations approved in the Kingdom due to the rarity of its occurrence.
It affects one in every million worldwide.
Dr.. Faisal Al-Suwaidan explains what is the disease “fatal familial insomnia syndrome” and the most prominent causes of it#Yahla_program #Gulf_Rotana pic.twitter.com/ahVfQekhqS– Ya Hala Program (@YaHalaShow) January 25, 2022