The Molecular Genetics of Restless Legs Syndrome.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor trait defined by symptoms that interfere with sleep onset and maintenance in a clinically meaningful way. Nonvolitional myoclonus while awake and asleep is a sign of the disorder and an informative endophenotype. The genetic contributions to RLS/periodic leg movements are substantial, are among the most robust defined to date for a common disease, and account for much of the variance in disease expressivity. The disorder is polygenic, as revealed by recent genome-wide association studies. Experimental studies are revealing mechanistic details of how these common variants might influence RLS expressivity.
Program in Sleep, Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Drive Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. Electronic address: drye@emory.edu.
David B
DB
Rye
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
Genetics; Iron; Molecular; Periodic leg movements; Restless legs; Sleep