Scientists believe that restless leg syndrome, which consists of discomfort that leads to constant movement in the legs, should be seen as a potential risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.
A new published in JAMA Network Open suggests that people suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS) may face a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The results also indicate that this risk may be reduced for patients receiving certain common treatments for RLS.
Also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, RLS is characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs that require frequent movement, often interrupting sleep. Although previous research has suggested a link between RLS and Parkinson’s, the relationship remains unclear. Both disturbances involve dysfunctions in the dopaminergic systemwhich regulates movement and is the target of similar drug treatments.
Researchers in South Korea analyzed the medical records of 9,919 people diagnosed with RLS and compared them with a control group of individuals matched for age, sex and other factors. Over a 15-year follow-up period, those with RLS were found to have 60% more likely of developing Parkinson’s disease than those without the disease. Specifically, 1.6% of the RLS group developed Parkinson’s, compared to 1% of the control group, reports the .
“In this cohort study, RLS was associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease,” the authors wrote. “Furthermore, patients with RLS who were not treated with dopaminergic agonists tended to present an increased riskwhile those who were treated tended to have a reduced risk compared to the control group.”
This finding suggests that the link between RLS and Parkinson’s disease may not simply result from deterioration of the dopaminergic pathway, as previously suspected. Instead, both conditions can share biological factors or more complex environmental problems, such as iron deficiency or sleep problems.
The researchers emphasize that RLS should be seen as a potential risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, rather than as an early symptom. Not all people with RLS develop Parkinson’s, and most Parkinson’s patients never have RLS.
Experts say this discovery could offer new insights into how prevent or delay the onset of Parkinson’s. “Clarifying this association and the role of the dopaminergic pathway may improve understanding of the pathophysiology between these two diseases,” the researchers concluded.
