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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Three-Dimensional Shape Modeling and Analysis of Brain Structures
Published on: November 14, 2019
Lack of Association Between Shape and Volume of Subcortical Brain Structures and Restless Legs Syndrome
Marco Hermesdorf1, Benedikt Sundermann2, Rajesh Rawal1
1Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Objective:
Previous studies on patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) yielded inconclusive results in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based analyses of alterations of subcortical structures in the brain. The aim of this study was to compare volumes as well as shapes of subcortical structures and the hippocampus between RLS cases and controls. Additionally, the associations between the genetic risks for RLS and subcortical volumes were investigated.
Methods:
We compared volumetric as well as shape differences assessed by 3 T MRI in the caudate nucleus, hippocampus, globus pallidus, putamen, and thalamus in 39 RLS cases versus 117 controls, nested within a population-based sample. In a subsample, we explored associations between known genetic risk markers for RLS and the volumes of the subcortical structures and the hippocampus.
Results:
No significant differences between RLS cases and controls in subcortical and hippocampal shapes and volumes were observed. Furthermore, the genetic risk for RLS was unrelated to any alterations of subcortical and hippocampal gray matter volume.
Interpretation:
We conclude that neither RLS nor the genetic risk for the disease give rise to changes in hippocampal and subcortical shapes and gray matter volumes.
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