Restless legs syndrome linked to gene

A gene mutation has been linked restless legs syndrome, U.S., Canadian, Irish, and Norwegian researchers say.

The researchers say probably only a few of those with restless leg syndrome have the mutated gene MEIS1, but understanding the role of the mutated gene, including the protein it produces, may shed light on the causes of restless legs syndrome — a nervous disorder that causes unpleasant leg sensations and often interrupts the sleep of those who suffer from the disorder.

We think restless legs syndrome may be due to a number of clinical factors, but we also believe that there is a strong genetic component to the disorder, lead investigator Carles Vilarino-Guell of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said in a statement.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, finds that when the research was widened to include 378 restless legs syndrome patients and 853 healthy participants only one additional individual from Ireland who did not present any symptoms of restless legs syndrome was identified.

This suggests the gene defect may need additional triggers to develop the syndrome, Vilarino-Guell says.