Structural brain lesions and restless legs syndrome: a cross-sectional population-based study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• White matter lesions (WMLs) and silent infarcts are common in aging populations.
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a prevalent neurological disorder affecting quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between WML volume, silent infarcts, and RLS prevalence in elderly individuals.
• To determine if cerebrovascular changes correlate with RLS in a population-based cohort.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, population-based study (Three-City study) involving 1035 elderly participants.
• WML volume quantified using automated MRI segmentation; RLS prevalence assessed via questionnaires.
• Logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between WML volume (overall, deep, or periventricular) and RLS prevalence.
• The presence of silent brain infarcts was not associated with an increased prevalence of RLS.
• Findings remained consistent across different age groups and genders.

Conclusions:

• Higher WML volume and silent infarcts are not associated with an increased prevalence of RLS in the elderly.
• These findings suggest that common age-related cerebrovascular changes may not be a primary driver of RLS in this demographic.
• Further research is needed to explore other potential etiological factors for RLS in older adults.