2006-09-07 02:50:45 · 8 answers · asked by Ickey J 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
There's an extremely rare condition called fatal familial insomnia (FFI). It's a genetic disease that affects the thalamus (the part of the brain that controls sleep). People who have it simply are not able to go to sleep. Eventually they die from lack of sleep, after developing severe mental illnesses. The Wikipedia article below tells more about it.
2006-09-07 03:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by purplerose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a child, I read the story of a woman who had been standing on her porch one day and sneezed rather violently, and had never slept since. She was old when the article was written, and was having problems as she was too arthritic to do needlework and her eyesight was too bad for her to read.
Scientists at the time (1970's) assumed that she had had a mini-stroke in some area of the brain due to the change in blood pressure when she sneezed, and damaged some area required for sleep regulation.
In the mid 1980's there was the case of an Israeli soldier who was shot through the head. He had no change in personality or cognitive function, but he also was unable to sleep. In this case, scientists were able to use an MRI to pin down which areas were damaged and might be responsible for sleep regulation.
People who can sleep and dream but don't are greatly impaired. They have personality changes, cognitive difficulties, and may experience waking hallucinations. People who cannot sleep at all because of this type of brain damage do not seem to be negatively affected by it.
2006-09-07 10:08:51 · answer #2 · answered by TychaBrahe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your question is truly forever, the answer is no. The body would give out after a maximum of about 11-12 days and death would ensue. This is without ANY sleep WHATSOEVER. If you just mean for long periods of time, yes, there are many and if you think you might have this, go see a doctor immediately. Sleep deprivation has many bad side effects on the body and mind.
2006-09-07 09:57:34 · answer #3 · answered by Genevieve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your body will break down and you will die if you get NO sleep whatsoever. Insomnia is the general diagnosis for sleep disorders, but Insomnia can be caused by other issues, like anxiety, illness, etc.
I went 6 straight months without legitimate sleep. I was a virtual zombie, but eventually my body just broke down and I slept for 16 straight hours, and I have been relatively fine ever since.
2006-09-07 09:58:18 · answer #4 · answered by KB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know there is a disorder where people sleep continually, so I imagine there is one that is the direct opposite. People in the manic phase of their bipolar disorder sometimes don't sleep for days.
2006-09-07 10:07:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no one can stay alive without sleeping at all , except for insomnia which is treated by sleeping pills.
2006-09-10 17:07:40 · answer #6 · answered by metakido 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forever?
uh, your body needs sleep.
I'd imagine you'd be dead from exhaustion before it made any difference.
If there is one, you're better off not knowing about it. lol.
2006-09-07 09:57:59 · answer #7 · answered by The-School.org 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
insomnia
2006-09-07 09:52:30 · answer #8 · answered by A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋