Famous People with Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological condition wherein a person experiences excessive sleepiness during the daytime. Narcolepsy is characterized by rapid eye movement sleep disorders and random spells of sleep during the day. A person suffering from narcolepsy experiences drowsiness at inappropriate and unusual times of the day and an excessive sleepiness at any time of the day. The nighttime sleep of narcoleptic people is of a disturbed nature and characterized by frequent awakenings.

A deficiency of protein-producing neurons in the brain or certain other genetic disorders can cause narcolepsy. Narcoleptic individuals should consult sleep specialists for the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. Research reveals that there are around 3 million cases of narcolepsy in the world today. Let us look at some famous people who suffered from narcolepsy.

Famous People with Narcolepsy

Harriet Tubman: She was an African-American abolitionist who was a slave by birth. She devoted her life to the abolition of slavery and strove all her life for the establishment of equality in society. While helping a slave escape from torture, Harriet Tubman met with an accident in which her head was severely injured. Following this injury, she began having seizures and spells of unconsciousness. She often used to fall asleep without warning. Probably, she was a narcoleptic. You might like to know more about this humanitarian through the timeline of Harriet Tubman.

Harold M. Ickes: Born no September 4, 1939, Harold Ickes went on to become an active politician. He worked in presidential campaigns and served as an advisor to David Dinkins’ campaign as the mayor of New York City. He was the famed deputy Chief of Staff for the White House. He is believed to be suffering from narcolepsy. It is said that he faces difficulties in concentrating on his job and uses medication to stay awake at work.

Teresa Nielsen Hayden: She was an American science fiction editor, essayist and fanzine writer. Born on March 21, 1956, she was brought up in Arizona. She served as a managing editor and later as a consulting editor to Tor Books. She is known for her weblog, in which she handles a variety of subjects. She was narcoleptic and was undergoing the Cylert medication for quite some time.

Jimmy Kimmel: Born on November 13, 1967, Jimmy Kimmel went on to become a television host and comedian. Apart from being a television personality, he is also a bass clarinet player. Best known for hosting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, co-hosting ‘The Man Show’ and famed for producing popular shows like ‘Crank Yankers’; Jimmy Kimmel is, sadly, a narcoleptic.

Aaron Flahavan: He was an English football player, who has played for Portsmouth since 1994. Before beginning a professional career, he played for the youth team of Southampton. Reportedly, he had experienced blackouts during matches, which indicated narcolepsy. He died an untimely death in a car accident.

Nastassja Kinski: She is a German actress of international acclaim. She was regarded as a sex symbol in the 1970s and the 1980s. Starting as a model, she went on to become a Golden Globe winning actress for her film ‘Tess’. She suffers from narcolepsy.

These were some of the famous narcoleptics. What is inspiring about them is that they have managed to continue with the pursuit of their careers, in spite of this illness called narcolepsy that can disorient a person’s life.