On Tue, 19 Sep 1995 15:39:34 -0700,
Sandra L Wegert <sandraw at U.Arizona.EDU> wrote:
>My mother has restless legs syndrome. I also have a less severe version
>of it. Does this make sense genetically (am I heterozygous)? What
>exactly is the mechanism? Exercise pretty much keeps it under control
>for me. Would some (DA?) drugs help my mother? Thanks!
>
Sandra:
Re genetics, the conventional picture of genetic disorders (dominant,
recessive, etc.) does not apply to the broad spectrum of the
neuropsychiatric immune functional disorders, which would include
restless legs syndrome. The reason for this is that there are
probably a large number of genes involved, many of which only make a
small contribution - facial appearance is the same way.
Though the evidence is still somewhat circumstantial, many of these
disorders are probably centered in the diffuse ascending monoaminergic
pathways from the reticular activating system in the brain stem.
One function of these pathways is to suppress movement during REM
sleep.
Dopamine is probably the most important neurotransmitter here,
so that is what treatment usually centers on. An important
new development in the treatment of these disorders is the combination
of dopaminergic and serotonergic agents, as in the phentermine +
fenfluramine treatment which appears to treat some other conditions
besides obesity.
AJR
