PHILADELPHIA (JANUARY 11, 2001) - Probing for the reason why fruit flies only rest and why some dogs and cats suffer narcolepsy and sleep apnea, researchers hope to one day develop medicines that will help humans deal with sleep disorders.

Joan Hendricks, V.M.D., chief of the Critical Care Section at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss her research into sleep apnea and recent studies on narcolepsy in dogs. She will also discuss the evidence that even Drosophilae, the laboratory fruit fly, requires a sleep-like rest state.

Dr. Hendricks will be the guest speaker at the February 14, 2001 A.W.A.K.E. in Philly Sleep Apnea Education and Support Group meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., with refreshments available at 6:30 p.m. Beverages are sponsored by Elliott's Amazing Juices and Drinks. A.W.A.K.E. is an acronym for Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic.

Studying sleep apnea in English bulldogs since 1986, Dr. Hendricks will summarize her own research, "which aims to understand the basis for sleep apnea in dogs." She will also briefly discuss new discoveries in the genetics of narcolepsy and the genetics of sleep-like rest in the fruit fly.

"When I entered the field," Dr. Hendricks said, "it was just because Adrian Morrison was doing excellent work, and I wished to study neuroscience."

Dr. Hendricks, who was graduated with her V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1980, received a PhD under Dr. Adrian Morrison, studying the basic physiology of sleep, said, "As I age, I've become more and more interested in the role of sleep in long-term memory and neural restoration."

Researchers are hoping the research on canines, felines, and the fruit fly will eventually lead to the development of medicines to help humans better cope with sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

The meeting will be held in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Surgical Seminar Room, located in the White Building. Enter through the main entrance and turn right down the first hallway immediately inside the lobby and proceed down the hallway. The meeting room is located at the end of the hallway. For detailed directions to the meeting room, anyone at the Information Desk, located in the main lobby, can assist. Driving directions to the hospital are located on the Awake In Philly site at http://www.AwakeInPhilly.org/Meetings/directions.htm.

Sleep disorders are more prevalent than most people believe. Researchers in the field of sleep medicine estimate that one of every five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Those disorders include:

• Sleep apnea

• Narcolepsy

• Periodic leg movements

• Insomnia

Sleep disorders -- disturbances of sleep and wakefulness -- rob us of the sleep we need. Untreated or undiagnosed sleep apnea often has disruptive and devastating effects on a person's life. Left untreated, apnea can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, heart and lung damage and disease, greater risk of stroke and high blood pressure, memory loss, the potential for greater involvement in traffic accidents because of tiredness, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, a decrease in productivity, weight gain, frequent urination, among others.

Awake In Philly sponsors, in alphabetical order, include Alpine Medical, Bensalem, PA.; B.F. Ascher and Co., Inc.; Elliott's Amazing Juices and Drinks; Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Inc.; Maril Products, makers of Control 3 Disinfectant; Penn Center for Sleep Disorders; Respironics, Inc.; SleepNet Corp.; and TalkAboutSleep.com.

The University of Pennsylvania is conveniently located on several SEPTA bus and trolley routes, as well as being conveniently located near SEPTA train stations, as well. For public transportation to Penn, please contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org.

Awake In Philly is one of more than 200 local support groups in the national A.W.A.K.E. network, which is a part of the American Sleep Apnea Association, based in Washington, D.C.