Yes, that's me on the lap of the great Albert Einstein! I found him at rest on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences, in Washington,DC. The occasion was the Congress on Sleep Health and Aging, directed by the National Sleep Foundation. Ann Austin, our Chairperson for Sleep Community Relations, and myself were privileged to attend.

The following quote appears on a postcard of the Albert Einstein memorial: "There are two ways in which science affects human affairs. The first is familiar to everyone: directly, and to an even greater extent indirectly, science produces aids that have completely transformed human existence. The second way is educational in character – it works on the mind. Although it may appear less obvious to cursory examination, it is no less incisive than the first." (Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years.)

We folks with narcolepsy have benefited a great deal in recent years as the findings of sleep scientists have improved our own human existence. The discovery of REM sleep fifty years ago, and the recent recognition of the hypocretin neurotransmitters, and the impact of both on normal and abnormal sleep are but two examples. The second way brings to mind the many ways we share life with narcolepsy through our networking and support groups.

I was also struck by another quotation of Albert Einstein which appeared on another plaque further from the sculpture. "Politics are for the present, equations are for eternity."

The purpose of the Congress was to study and shape the formula for healthy sleep and aging. The conference speakers clearly dismissed one formula we sometimes believe: that aging equals greater sleep deprivation. However, they also recognized that the increasing health issues that come with age will be made better or worse by healthy or unhealthy sleep patterns. Similarly, the challenges of aging will present new challenges to those of us with sleep disorders.

Think a bit (let it work on your mind) about how much our existence depends on formulas and equations. It's as true for life with narcolepsy – adding or subtracting medications to produce a desired result, factoring in our families and daily activities, using the chronic multiplier, always seeking to reduce fragmented sleep and increase alertness. Such is the stuff of life.

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