Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) is a mystifying neurological disorder most affecting young men and women in adolescence and lasting into young adulthood. KLS produces extended bouts of extreme sleepiness and impaired cognition that is paired with significant reduction in emotional sensitivity. These bouts can last for weeks to months, making it impossible for a person to participate in normal activities, and they can recur, with the condition lasting as long as ten years. With little successful treatment for Kleine-Levin Syndrome, a person may be robbed of their ability to be a full participant in life for years, until recovery occurs.
KLS has also been called Sleeping Beauty syndrome and of its symptoms, the most recognizable is hypersomnolence, or very long periods of sleep. A person with this disease may only wake to use the restroom or to eat something, and when awake, behavior is very different than normal. People in the awake state, when experiencing a bout of hypersomnolence, usually are apathetic or unfeeling, and the expression “spaced out” has been used to describe cognitive range.
During these bouts it isn’t possible to simply talk the person out of being sleepy or adopt a “bootstraps” mentality to make them get up. Apathy means emotion can’t be appealed to and the level of understanding may be poor in any case. Even with use of stimulants to wake the person up, the behavioral features may remain present and participating in normal activities could still be difficult or impossible.
In some people, the features of Kleine-Levin Syndrome go farther during the most active bouts of the condition. Some people become hypersexual and they may be less able to observe normal boundaries regarding sex during this time. There’s also higher incidence of overeating, which may correlate to higher weight levels if bouts last long or occur often.
The causes of Kleine-Levin Syndrome aren’t fully understood and some feel the condition is related to disorders like bipolar disorder. To this end, some doctors may treat KLS with mood stabilizers like lithium or carbamazepine. It’s not clear if these are fully successful, though they do prove useful for some people. What is most puzzling is that ultimately, people recover from this disease, usually when they are in their 20s, though some people might still have occasional, less severe episodes.
When KLS does resolve, this often means people must do a lot more to attempt to recover some of the things they’ve lost as a result of the disease. Many people with Kleine-Levin Syndrome have missed out on being able to complete important milestones like high school and college graduation. They may need support to make up for these things so they can pursue life fully. Psychological support is advised, as people with KLS may feel isolated or grieve some of the life they have lost while they suffered these episodes.
