Narcolepsy: a machine learning bibliometric analysis (1996–2024)

TL;DR

This paper uses machine learning and bibliometric analysis to study global research trends in narcolepsy from 1996 to 2024.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of narcolepsy research, highlighting trends in treatment and comorbidities.

Findings

The USA led in narcolepsy research publications, with Stanford University and other institutions as top contributors.

Recent research trends include medications like Pitolisant and comorbidities like obstructive sleep apnea.

Gaps remain in understanding neurotransmitter interactions and drug therapy efficacy in narcolepsy.

Abstract

Narcolepsy is a rare neurological cause of chronic sleepiness. This study aimed to better understand global narcolepsy through bibliometric analysis.

Articles and reviews on narcolepsy were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. A bibliometric analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, Python, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R (bibliometrix), and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology to assess publication outputs, countries, institutions, authors, journals, co-cited references, and keywords.

The analysis included 5,215 publications, with citations significantly increasing from 1996 to 2024. The USA led in publications, while the top institutions were Stanford University, INSERM, and Université de Montpellier. Key authors like Professors Plazzi G, Mignot E, and Dauvilliers Y greatly contributed to the field through numerous publications and high citation rates. Sleep published the most articles, followed by Sleep Medicine. Keyword analysis indicated a shift toward molecular mechanisms, comorbidities, and diagnosis. Recent interest has surged in medications for excessive daytime sleepiness, such as “Pitolisant”, “Modafinil” and “Sodium Oxybate” along with the relationship between narcolepsy and COVID-19.

“Pitolisant,” “Modafinil,” and “Sodium Oxybate” have gained prominence in narcolepsy treatment. This study also highlights common comorbidities linked to narcolepsy, including “obstructive sleep apnea”, “epilepsy” and “atrial fibrillation” driving researchers to explore these conditions to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. However, the interactions between key neurotransmitters in narcolepsy are still unclear, and challenges remain regarding factors that complicate drug therapy efficacy, necessitating further investigation.

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