A new study from South Korea shows that people with restless leg syndrome (RLS) may be more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
The research looked at health data from nearly 10,000 people with RLS and compared them to 10,000 similar people without the condition.
After 15 years, 1.6% of those with RLS were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, compared to only 1.0% in the group without RLS.
Restless leg syndrome is a condition that causes an uncomfortable feeling in the legs, especially when resting. People feel a strong urge to move their legs to relieve the discomfort. Doctors often treat RLS with drugs called dopamine agonists, which work like the brain chemical dopamine and help with movement control.
Parkinson’s disease is a serious brain disorder that also involves problems with dopamine. People with Parkinson’s have low levels of dopamine, which leads to shaking, stiffness, and trouble with movement. Doctors also treat Parkinson’s disease with dopamine agonists to help manage symptoms.
Because both RLS and Parkinson’s disease involve dopamine, scientists have long wondered if the two conditions are connected. This new study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, helps support that idea.
The researchers used a large national health database in South Korea that included health records from 2002 to 2019. They focused on people around 50 years old, and about 63% of them were women. The team compared people with RLS to those without, making sure the two groups were similar in age and other factors.
They also looked at whether people with RLS were taking dopamine agonists. People were considered treated if they had been given pramipexole or ropinirole during at least two separate doctor visits. Those who did not get these drugs were considered untreated.
The results showed that people with RLS who were not treated with dopamine agonists were more likely to develop Parkinson’s (2.1%) than those who were treated (0.5%). This suggests that dopamine agonists might be linked to a lower chance of getting Parkinson’s, or perhaps they delay the symptoms.
However, the researchers say this does not mean that taking dopamine agonists can prevent Parkinson’s. More research is needed to understand if these drugs have a protective effect or if they simply change how or when Parkinson’s is diagnosed.
This study supports the idea that RLS could be an early warning sign for Parkinson’s. It also raises questions about whether both conditions might share some of the same causes. Understanding how dopamine and other brain systems are involved could help doctors find better ways to treat or even prevent these disorders.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that exercise hormone may help stop Parkinson’s symptoms and scientists make new breakthrough in Parkinson’s disease treatment.
For more about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about how to improve walking in people with Parkinson’s disease and Scientists find causes of Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
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