Restless Leg Syndrome
- Submitted by: boomer
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- Date Submitted: 03/20/2012 08:18 AM
- Pages: 5
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Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a condition that some 10% of people in the United States have. Researchers have estimated that approximately 2%-3% of people have moderate-to-severe RLS.
The main symptom is an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by “creepy-crawly” sensations in the legs.
A research team from Penn State College of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins University searched for answers regarding restless legs syndrome. Led by James Connor, Ph.D., professor and interim chair, Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, Penn State College of Medicine, the team performed the first-ever autopsy analysis of the brains of people with restless legs syndrome.
The researchers revealed a possible cause of restless legs syndrome. The researchers study findings where no unique pathological changes in the brains of patients with RLS, it seems that cells in a portion of the mid-brain are not receiving enough iron.
RLS can occur as a primary or secondary condition. Primary RLS seems to happen sporadically and for unknown reasons. Family history is reported by many patients with primary RLS, suggesting a genetic link to the disease. However, Secondary RLS occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition or because of certain medications. Examples include kidney failure, low levels of iron, anemia and, pregnancy.
Because the involuntary jerking and flexing are sometimes treated with the same type of drugs as Parkinson’s, researchers have wondered if they’re related, as some reports have suggested.
The new study found that RLS itself wasn’t liked with Parkinson’s. Instead, other types of leg restlessness, which happened during the daytime as well, were more common in people just starting to show Parkinson’s symptoms.
A study included 200 Norwegians with recently diagnosed Parkinson’s, who weren’t on medication for the disease, and another 173 people of similar ages without Parkinson’s. The Norwegians was interviewed by neurologists...
The main symptom is an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by “creepy-crawly” sensations in the legs.
A research team from Penn State College of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins University searched for answers regarding restless legs syndrome. Led by James Connor, Ph.D., professor and interim chair, Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, Penn State College of Medicine, the team performed the first-ever autopsy analysis of the brains of people with restless legs syndrome.
The researchers revealed a possible cause of restless legs syndrome. The researchers study findings where no unique pathological changes in the brains of patients with RLS, it seems that cells in a portion of the mid-brain are not receiving enough iron.
RLS can occur as a primary or secondary condition. Primary RLS seems to happen sporadically and for unknown reasons. Family history is reported by many patients with primary RLS, suggesting a genetic link to the disease. However, Secondary RLS occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition or because of certain medications. Examples include kidney failure, low levels of iron, anemia and, pregnancy.
Because the involuntary jerking and flexing are sometimes treated with the same type of drugs as Parkinson’s, researchers have wondered if they’re related, as some reports have suggested.
The new study found that RLS itself wasn’t liked with Parkinson’s. Instead, other types of leg restlessness, which happened during the daytime as well, were more common in people just starting to show Parkinson’s symptoms.
A study included 200 Norwegians with recently diagnosed Parkinson’s, who weren’t on medication for the disease, and another 173 people of similar ages without Parkinson’s. The Norwegians was interviewed by neurologists...