Sleep Disorder That Kills: The Horror of Sleeplessness

How important is sleep to us?

A significant portion of our lives is devoted to sleeping; in fact, we spend about one-third of our time asleep. If we live up to 60 years, we would have spent roughly 20 years sleeping. Despite this extensive amount of time spent sleeping, it is often overlooked and taken for granted. We tend to forget just how crucial sleep is to our overall well-being.

Our brain's master biological clock, located in a specific region, activates this process. The cells in our retinas can detect changes in daylight as the sun sets and the world becomes darker. As a result, the master switch in our brain instructs the pineal gland to increase the production of melatonin, inducing a feeling of tiredness, which is referred to as the circadian rhythm. The proper functioning of our bodies relies heavily on this rhythm. A good night's sleep is essential for restoring our mood, memory, and cognitive abilities.

In contrast, insufficient sleep can result in impaired memory, difficulty in processing information, and an overall negative impact on our mood, which could lead to conflicts with others.

Fortunately, the effects of sleep deprivation can be mitigated by getting the required amount of sleep. However, what would happen if we were unable to sleep at all? How would our bodies and minds cope with prolonged periods of sleeplessness, lasting days or even months?

Family had been cursed with this affliction for generations.

Silvano was a sophisticated and refined man who was 53 years old and had an exceptional sense of style. He made it a point to dress up in a tuxedo for every event, as he believed it best represented his image. Moreover, he possessed eye-catching red hair, which would immediately draw anyone's attention as soon as he walked into a room.

One particular evening, Silvano was on a cruise ship, where he was enjoying himself dancing on the dance floor. Suddenly, he realized that he was drenched in sweat, and he began to feel embarrassed. He excused himself and made his way to the restroom to freshen up. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he was horrified to see a familiar face staring back at him, knowing that his family had been cursed with this affliction for generations.

The curse that had befallen Silvano's family began with his father, followed by his two sisters. The symptoms started with people contracting the disease, followed by profuse sweating.

This was followed by tremors, impotence, and constipation, which were exactly the same symptoms Silvano experienced. However, the most deadly symptom was the inability to sleep, and Silvano knew that his end was near.

As soon as Silvano enrolled at the University of Bologna, he was quickly admitted to their sleep unit to be studied. Silvano told Pietro Cortelli, one of the researchers at the time, that he would stop sleeping and die within eight or nine months.

Cortelli questioned his certainty, and Silvano proceeded to draw his family tree from the 18th century from memory. He explained how each family member had suffered from the same disease and agreed to donate his brain to research the cause of this tragic illness. Sadly, Silvano's prediction came true, and he passed away in less than two years.

The disease goes by the name of fatal familial insomnia, which was only discovered in 1986. This is a genetic disorder that's considered to be passed on from one generation to the next.

It tends to worsen over time and gradually occurs after sleep deprivation. In just a few months, those affected start experiencing coordination problems, dementia, and even difficulties with speech. What's peculiar about this condition is that it's quite rare, and only 40 families worldwide are believed to have been affected by it.

The first individual known to have died from this disease was Giacomo, a man from Italy, back in 1791. In a similar fashion to Silvano's case, Giacomo found it impossible to sleep and died a few months after. What's truly concerning is the fact that, even to this day, no cure has been found for this disease.

Michael's Story

Michael Corke is a dedicated music teacher at a high school in Chicago who deeply enjoys his job, is happily married, and has a loving family. However, things took a turn for the worse during his 40th birthday celebration when he started experiencing difficulty falling asleep. Despite tossing and turning, he couldn't seem to tire himself out.

Michael was very agitated and scolded his wife, Penny, for snoring while they were sleeping together. But even without her snoring, Michael was unable to sleep. His frustration led him to blame Penny for his lack of sleep and he told her to go sleep in the living room. Penny, being a supportive wife, followed his request and slept on the couch for the next 10 days.

Despite thinking that isolation might help Michael sleep better, he continued to stay wide awake, as if he had forgotten how to sleep. It has now been two months since Michael has been unable to sleep, and his condition has become so severe that Penny has to assist him with basic tasks such as going to the bathroom and getting dressed for work.

This has been a challenging situation for both of them, but especially for Michael, who now requires care and support from his wife.

During the Christmas celebrations at Michael's house, his health condition began to deteriorate.

While having dinner with his family, Michael appeared confused and disoriented, as if he didn't recognize anyone. He even mistook his niece for his sister, as he thought she was still a child. Michael even asked if his grandmother would be joining them for dinner, despite the fact that she had passed away sixteen years ago. It seemed as though Michael's memories had regressed back to the past.

Just like Silvano, Michael had to be examined by professionals. He received treatment at the University Hospital of Chicago. Unfortunately, his initial diagnosis of multiple sclerosis turned out to be incorrect, as insomnia is not a symptom of the disease.

Despite ongoing medical care, it wasn't until the end of his life that the doctors were finally able to properly identify his illness. Unfortunately, there was no cure available for his condition at that time.

He had gone without sleep for 130 consecutive days and was unable to engage in a conversation, only responding with a "yes" or "no". The doctors were aware that Michael had only a few weeks left, so they prescribed him sleeping pills with the hope that it would help him.

Unfortunately, the medication had little effect, and Michael passed away soon after. Penny was heartbroken because she wasn't there for Michael's last moments, but she was also relieved because her husband could finally find peace and rest.