RLS & Parkinson

[Guest]

Does anyone have an idea if RLS and Parkinson are found to be related.
(i.e. if people who have RLS are doomed to suffer from Parkinson?)

[jumpyowl]

Since anti-Parkinson medications at low doses favorably affect RLS, one could jump to the conclusion that these two diseases are related, what would even be worse, one could progress into the other.

I am no expert but what I have read so far indicated that this is not the case. I am not sure whether a retrospective study has been done to see whether the Parkinson patients have a history of RLS at a higher percentage than the general population. It, however, does not seem to be the case.

What made you think of this possibility? Do you know of somebody who has RLS and Parkinson's?

[sardsy75]

Hi there

My maternal grandmother has been fighting Parkinson's Disease for the past 10-15 years. At the moment, she is going downhill at a rapid rate and I am glad that I had the opportunity to visit her when we were in Brisbane last month.

Now, here's the part you might or might not want to read....she has never had RLS!!!

My maternal grandfather (her husband) had chronic RLS (and possibly CFS as well), but he passed from cancer.

Also, my mum's best friend recently who recently passed, had Parkinson's/MSA (Multiple System Atrophy). She too had no history of RLS.

In all my reading/research on RLS over the past twelve months I cannot recall coming across any medical connections between RLS and Parkinson's. I think that the alarm bells are going off purely because both seem to "originate" in the same area of the brain and that RLS seems to respond well with anti-Parkinson medications, although at a much lower dosage than those who actually have Parkinson's.

Hope this helps
Nadia

[Guest]

I've read an article that mentioned 50% of people suffering from RLS (including kids & teenagers), end up developing parkinson in adulthood.
It was a new research, but I haven't found anything about it over the internet.

[jumpyowl]

Dear Guest:

Please give us the reference where you read that "info." It is important. I hope you remember where you read it.

Was it in a scientific refereed journal or lay publication???

[Guest]

I've read it in 2 different newspapers, but the problem is that they're not in English...

Both said that 40% of the people that suffer from RLS (and move their legs during the night), including children, will develop Parkinson in old age or even as adults.

[jumpyowl]

That is not a problem. What language were they in? and what newspapers?

[UP Person]

My sleep doctor at Mayo clinic said that there is no relationship between RLS and Parkisnon's. I asked him this question specifically. I am inclined to believe the Mayo doctors.

I also read somewhere that Parkinson's is a degenerative disease - with continuing changes in the brain. I believe I read somewhere on this site that with RLS there are no changes noted in the brain.

[jan3213]

My neurologist at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis also assured me that there is no connection between RLS and Parkinsons. I have the utmost trust in him and believe he would not mislead me. I have been his patient for ten years.

[Minou]

My neurologist is a specialist in sleep disorders. He conducts research and has published many articles specifically on RLS. He has assured me that there is no evidence that RLS patients develop Parkinsons. I have been his patient for seven years and I trust him totally.