GUWAHATI: An international team of scientists has made a breakthrough in understanding restless leg syndrome (RLS), a condition prevalent among older adults that causes an unpleasant crawling sensation in the legs and an overwhelming urge to move them, particularly in the evening or at night. This condition significantly impairs sleep and is associated with depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, and diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Munich (TUM) in Germany and the University of Cambridge in the UK collaborated to pool and analyse data from three genome-wide association studies, encompassing over 100,000 patients and 1.5 million unaffected controls. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Genetics, identified more than 140 new genetic risk loci, increasing the total number of known loci eightfold to 164, including three on the X chromosome.
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Dr. Steven Bell from the University of Cambridge highlighted the potential impact of these findings. "Understanding the genetic basis of restless leg syndrome can help find better ways to manage and treat it, potentially improving the lives of many millions of people affected worldwide," he said.
Among the genetic differences identified, two involve genes related to glutamate receptors 1 and 4, which are crucial for nerve and brain function. The researchers noted that these receptors could be targeted by existing drugs, such as anticonvulsants like perampanel and lamotrigine, or could lead to the development of new medications.
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Early trials have shown positive responses to these drugs in patients with restless leg syndrome. Despite the condition being twice as common in women as in men, the study found no significant genetic differences between the sexes.
