Genetics of the Restless Legs Syndrome

In genome-wide association studies genetic risk variations for the restless legs syndrome (RLS) have been identified in the genes MEIS1, BTBD9, PTPRD and LBXCOR1/MAP2K5 genes. Carriers of one risk allele have an increased risk to suffer from RLS. Further genetic and/or non-genetic or environmental factors must additionally be present for a person to be afflicted by RLS. It is, however, not known which specific factors are involved in this process. The identified genes are involved in the development of the central nervous system. Further research is needed to show whether RLS has components of a neurological development disorder or whether the RLS genes in the adult CNS have completely different functions in relation to RLS and in the adult CNS.     «

In genome-wide association studies genetic risk variations for the restless legs syndrome (RLS) have been identified in the genes MEIS1, BTBD9, PTPRD and LBXCOR1/MAP2K5 genes. Carriers of one risk allele have an increased risk to suffer from RLS. Further genetic and/or non-genetic or environmental factors must additionally be present for a person to be afflicted by RLS. It is, however, not known which specific factors are involved in this process. The identified genes are involved in the develop...     »