Understanding the pathogenesis of the restless legs syndrome at the level of the dopamine receptor. Are we about to identify the neurochemical deficiency causing schizophrenia?
According to a recent hypothesis, the restless legs syndrome is thought to be due to a caffeine-like substance produced by the human body (1). Some researchers have reported a case of familial restless legs that had high concentration of free dopamine in the cerebrospinal fluid (2). Other researchers have noticed the beneficial effect of opioids in the treatment of the restless legs syndrome (3). In this article, I am compiling information reconciling the findings of those researchers with the hypothesis that proposes that the restless legs syndrome is due to a caffeine-like substance produced by the human body. Also, I am addressing the pathogenesis of the restless legs syndrome at the level of the dopamine receptors in the central nervous system. Understanding this pathogenesis probably will help in identifying the neurochemical deficiency causing schizophrenia.
Missak
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D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine