Is Restless Leg Syndrome Hereditary?

RLS has been a very perturbing problem for medical fraternity. No one was able to pin point the exact cause o this condition. For a long time, there is a debate going on regarding the hereditary nature of this syndrome. It is well known that more than 60% cases of RLS are familial i.E. The syndrome was present in more than one family member. Many studies have been conducted in the past to establish a reliable genetic connection but the results remained inconclusive. However two recent studies published in top medical journals have indicated a strong genetic link responsible for the symptoms of restless legs.

In the first study published in New England Journal of Medicine, blood samples from more than 1000 Icelanders and Americans were analyzed. The DNA of people suffering from RLS was compared to DNA of people without the symptoms. A certain variation in the human genome was detected which probably accounted for 50% of cases.

In the second study published in Nature Genetics, the DNA of 400 Germans and Canadians with a family history of the syndrome were compared the DNA of 1600 who did not have it. This study found variation in three areas of genome. It identifies the same gene variation found in the first study as well as two others.

These were also found to be responsible for 50% increase in the risk of the syndrome.

These studies are a great advance on the previous research and provide a big blow to the normal misconception that RLS symptoms exist more in mind than in body. It is now abundantly clear that this problem is inherited through genetic variations. Although the influence of the affected genes on the response of the brain is still uncertain but the scientists believe that this discovery will now lead to developing effective treatment.