Fatal familial insomnia is a hereditary sleep disorder that currently affects about 30 families throughout the world, making ...

The chief clinical features of FFI include a progressive and ferocious insomnia, waking "sleep," hallucinations, autonomic disturbances suggestive of sympathetic overdrive (tachycardia ...

This important possibility suggests that aggressive symptomatic treatment of insomnia may extend life. Disclosure: Joyce Schenkein, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

The genetic history of sisters Carolyn Schear (at right) and Cheryl Dinges puts them at risk for fatal familial insomnia, a deadly inability to sleep. Schear learned she doesn’t carry the gene.

The Cleveland Clinic calls fatal familial insomnia a “rare genetic condition” affecting the brain and central nervous system. Those affected may have trouble sleeping, memory loss and muscle ...