Gene Mutation Cause for Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is such an aggravating neurologic disorder. It keeps you from sleeping and the feeling in your legs (or for some, in the arms) is so uncomfortable you can’t help but jump out of bed and want to run miles just to stop the creepy crawly feeling. While there isn’t much information on the causes of RLS, some scientists are working to find something more about it.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have found a gene mutation that may contribute to RLS. This mutation was found on the MEIS1 gene but the BTBD9 gene has also been suggested as influential to the disorder. In their study, they found that families with mutations on the MEIS1 gene had more incidence of suffering from RLS. However, they did find some participants who had the gene mutation but did not suffer from the disorder, which may mean that there is some other trigger that sets off the gene defect to develop the syndrome.

This makes a lot of sense to me because I am a restless leg syndrome sufferer. I had it as an adolescent and it become especially bad when I was pregnant. Which makes me wonder if hormones could be that trigger they mentioned that sets off the gene defect.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloth_rider/1492095586/)

July 24th, 2009 by Marcelina Hardy | Posted in Genetics and Society | (1)