Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)

Presentation Summary

Fatal Familial insomnia (FFI) What is Fatal Familial Insomnia? Also known as FFI. Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) is a genetic sleep disorder - but it is a rare one. It has been diagnosed in less than 40 families worldwide, including the Chicago music teacher, Michael Corke, who featured in the BBC documentary The Man Who Never Slept. FFI begins as an unexplained sleeplessness during middle age and rapidly develops into a fatal insomnia. It is caused by a genetic mutation which leads to a prion disease, related in nature to Mad Cow Disease (BSE or CJD) and Kuru (the laughing disease found in cannibalistic tribes in New Guinea) and even Alzheimer's Disease. Prions are the missing link between all these diseases, and they tell us a lot about the nature of protein molecules and their ability to cause death.
The main symptom of FFI is the inability to sleep, and this causes high pulse and blood pressure, excessive sweating and a loss of coordination and motor skills. The disease manifests itself in four deteriorating stages:
STAGE ONE - The sudden and inexplicable onset of insomnia causes panic attacks and unfounded phobias, lasting for about four months. (Longest FFI case lasted 18 Months before the victim died of being deprived from