A new one The study was published in JAMA Network Open determined whether people with restless legs syndrome (RLS) are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD). The findings suggest that having RLS may increase your risk, but that treatment may play a key role.
What is restless legs syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder in which people have the urge to move their legs. There may also be discomfort, often described as creeping, crawling or itching. These feelings are usually worse in the evening or at night. People with RLS often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Symptoms may be temporarily relieved when the legs are moved, stretched, or turned around.
In causes of RLS may vary from person to person. It may be related to low iron levels, diabetes, kidney failure, pregnancy, or certain medications.
RLS can also be related disruption of the part of the brain that controls movement. This part of the brain uses a chemical called dopamine to create smooth muscle movement. When dopamine levels are disrupted, it can cause involuntary movements.
A diagnosis of RLS is made by your doctor based on a description of your symptoms. No blood, X-ray, or sleep tests are needed to diagnose RLS.
For people with severe symptoms, prescription medications can help. Some of the more common treatments affect the brain’s dopamine system, including drugs such as pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine, and levodopa. These dopamine agonists were once considered the gold standard for RLS, but have recently been updated clinical practice guideline of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine now recommends against their regular use because of possible side effects and long-term problems. There are other prescription drugs that can treat RLS that work on the dopamine, gaba, or opioid receptor systems.
Parkinson’s disease and dopamine
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops when nerve cells in the brain weaken and causes tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and balance problems. As the disease progresses, people may have trouble walking, talking, or doing everyday activities.
In PD, the brain gradually loses dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement. Since both PD and RLS involve changes in dopamine, this may explain why they cause similar movement problems and respond to some of the same treatments.
That’s what research has found
Researchers in South Korea examined the health data of nearly 20,000 people, including 9,919 people with RLS and an equal number without. Both groups had a median age of 50 years and approximately 63% were women.
Over time, PD developed in 1% of people without RLS and 1.6% of those with RLS. This means that patients with RLS are more likely to have PD than those without the sleep disorder.
The study also looked at how medications may affect this risk. People with RLS who were not treated with dopamine agonists were more likely to develop PD and tended to be diagnosed sooner. However, those who took dopamine agonists were less likely to develop PD and were later diagnosed, suggesting that treatment may have played a role.
Sleep disorders and Parkinson’s disease
Restless legs syndrome is not the only sleep disorder associated with Parkinson’s disease. REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a sleep disorder in which people physically act out their dreams, is also associated with a higher risk of developing PD in the future. In fact, RBD is sometimes seen as an early warning sign of Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases.
Achievement
Although RLS and PD are separate neurological disorders, they share some similarities, including abnormal muscle movements and changes in brain activity that affect movement. There are both depending on low dopamine levels.
Research suggests RLS is more common in people with PD. One study found that about 16% of people with Parkinson’s also have RLS, compared to about 5% to 10% of the general population.
New research adds to growing evidence that RLS may be linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s later in life. However, studies on this topic have shown mixed results, in part because the way both conditions are diagnosed has changed over time.
Researchers continue to explore what links the two and whether early recognition and care can help improve outcomes later. Both RLS and Parkinson’s can interfere with sleep, so if you have persistent sleep problems, talk to a sleep specialist or see your doctor. accredited sleep center for help
Medical review by: Shalini Paruthi, MD
