In a large study of older adults, those who had RLS were significantly more likely to develop dementia over more than a decade than peers without RLS. RLS is associated with poor sleep, depression, anxiety, poor diet, and obesity -- all known risk factors for dementia.
We found that incident RLS is associated with an elevated risk of dementia in older adults, suggesting that RLS could be regarded as a newly identified risk factor or prodromal sign of dementia.
Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression. Insomnia may lead to excessive daytime drowsiness, but RLS may interfere with napping.
If nerve cells become damaged, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced, which causes muscle spasms and involuntary movements. Dopamine levels naturally fall towards the end of the day, which may explain why the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are often worse in the evening and during the night.
Does having RLS increase the risk of developing PD? Since RLS affects as much as 4-10% of the US adult population, it is clear that the vast majority of those with RLS do not ever develop PD. Despite this, it still might be the case that RLS increases the risk of subsequently developing PD.
Severe restless legs syndrome, however, is a chronic progressive disorder that may require long-term treatment.
In most cases, the cause of RLS is unknown. However, RLS often runs in families and specific gene variants have been associated with the condition. Low levels of iron in the brain also may be responsible for RLS. RLS also may be related to a dysfunction in a part of your brain that controls movement.
People with RLS have impaired sleep, often associated with periodic limb movements, and increased risk of depression and anxiety, all of which combine to reduce quality of life.
In some cases, intravenous iron therapy can be an effective treatment. Painful forms of RLS or any RLS associated to polyneuropathy (diabetes etc.) might respond well to alpha-2 delta agonists (pregabalin, gabapentin). Pramipexole has also been shown to improve painful symptoms in RLS patients [50].
The results of this study indicate that men with RLS had a higher overall mortality, which highlights the clinical importance of RLS, a common but underrecognized disorder.
If you have RLS, you should also see a doctor if you are: Losing sleep often. Feeling depressed or anxious. Having trouble concentrating.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sleep disorder with frequent (39%) coexisting psychiatric comorbidities. Patients with any psychiatric comorbidity had fewer periodic leg movements in sleep. Psychiatric disorders should be taken into account in patients with RLS.
Who gets restless legs syndrome (RLS)? People of any age, including children, can have RLS. Symptoms of RLS may begin in childhood or adulthood, but the chance of having the syndrome increases significantly with age. RLS is more common in women than in men.
Fast facts on restless legs syndrome:
The condition is often caused by a combination of mental and physical factors. Women are more likely to be affected with RLS during pregnancy.
The disorder often runs in families: 40 to 90 percent of affected individuals report having at least one affected first-degree relative , such as a parent or sibling, and many families have multiple affected family members.
massaging your legs. taking a hot bath in the evening. applying a hot compress to your leg muscles. doing activities that distract your mind, such as reading or watching television.
Sleeping Position
Along with a new mattress, how you sleep is essential to alleviating RLS symptoms. For instance, sleeping on your back is ideal because it evenly distributes your body weight and lets your back muscles relax.
Dopamine agonists: These are most often the first medicines used to treat RLS. These drugs, including pramipexole (Mirapex), rotigotine (Neupro), and ropinirole (Requip), act like the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.
The top three foods to avoid are chocolate, sugary sodas, and fried foods. Additionally, you will also want to avoid any foods or beverages that contain caffeine, since this can stimulate your nerves and make your symptoms more severe. These include coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate.
Magnesium supplementation is often suggested for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or period limb movement disorder (PLMD) based on anecdotal evidence that it relieves symptoms and because it is also commonly recommended for leg cramps.
Although there's no cure for restless legs syndrome, medications and lifestyle changes can help minimize symptoms and increase restful sleep. Cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and tobacco may help. Taking a hot bath, massaging the legs or using a heating pad or ice pack can also relieve symptoms.
The recommended daily amount of elemental magnesium in a supplement form is between 200 to 400 mg daily for adults. Taking it at bedtime should benefit sleep. Some doctors recommend taking magnesium as a separate supplement rather than relying on the dose in a multivitamin supplement.
RLS typically flares up at night. In more severe cases, the symptoms may begin earlier in the day, but they become much more intense at bedtime. Symptoms improve when you walk or move your legs. The relief continues as long as you keep moving.
Did you know that research shows that ripened bananas are found to contain magnesium, potassium, and a natural form of dopamine? These substances work together and may be a significant help in relieving your restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms.