Cause of Restless Legs Syndrome

Updated May 20, 2014th

Restless legs syndrome is a rare disease whose cause is unknown. Studies have identified a possible cause of restless legs.

What is restless legs?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) can be between 5 and 10 percent of the American population that is underdiagnosed influence. The main symptom is an irresistible urge the legs to move often accompanied by feelings legs "creepy crawlies".

Only the movement of the legs relieved feelings. For the millions of people who suffer the evening of restless leg syndrome worse after sunset, leading to a pattern of insomnia.

A team of researchers from Penn State College of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University to search for answers restless legs. Hosted by James Connor, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Anatomy and Neuoscience, Penn State College of Medicine, the team performed the first analysis of the autopsy of the brains of people with restless legs syndrome. Their research was presented at the meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Chicago on June 5, 2003 showed a possible cause of restless legs.

The results of the study

• Although no clear pathology in the brains of patients with restless legs syndrome appears that the cells in a part of the brain is not enough iron.
• There were no signs of neurodegeneration, brain lost or damaged, as observed in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease cells.
• The discovery of a natural cause of restless legs syndrome shows that the problem is psychological rather than sensorimotor.
• Go as cells lost or damaged, but iron deficiency, there is hope for the development of treatments.

About the Study

• Connor studied from the collection of the brain Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Harvard Brain Bank received brain tissue.
• Tissues were 7 people with Restless Legs Syndrome investigated. 5 samples from people without neurological diseases as controls were used.
• Cross slide of the substantia nigra, allows the part of the brain, through the medium associated with the syndrome, the research team to the structure and function of cells in restless legs investigate.

Conclusions

• Connor was found that a specific receptor for iron transport is lacking in patients with Restless Legs Syndrome. Enough iron occurs in the brain cells to keep them alive, but not enough to function optimally for them. It has been suggested that the lack of iron may lead to misfires of nerve signals to the legs cause uncomfortable tingling.
• These results do not suggest that the person has an iron deficiency and require dietary supplements. It is suggested that the receptors to not specified as a packaging and delivery of a sufficient amount of iron, cells specific in the midbrain.
• Some patients have time, take iron supplements found relief, but it is extremely important that any complementary therapy be administered by a physician.
• Connor hopes to continue to detect other errors in the packaging of iron transport system in this part of the brain, as well as focusing on genes that regulate iron transport proteins.
• The hope is that these findings are finally in a test to diagnose restless legs and treatments that might provide relief from restless leg syndrome long-term suffering.

This study was partially supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation.

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