Alterations of Functional Connectivity in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology

Background:

• Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of RLS is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize findings from functional connectivity studies in patients with Restless legs syndrome.
• To explore how brain network alterations contribute to RLS pathogenesis and how treatments impact these networks.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of functional connectivity studies in RLS patients compared to healthy controls.
• Analysis of alterations in specific brain networks, including thalamic, salience, default-mode, and small-world networks.
• Examination of network changes associated with RLS treatments such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, and dopaminergic drugs.

Main Results:

• Significant alterations in functional connectivity were identified in RLS patients across multiple brain networks compared to healthy individuals.
• Specific network changes were observed in thalamic, salience, default-mode, and small-world networks.
• RLS treatments, including non-invasive brain stimulation and medications, were associated with modifications in these brain networks.

Conclusions:

• The findings strongly suggest that altered functional connectivity within brain networks is a key component of Restless legs syndrome pathophysiology.
• RLS can be conceptualized as a network disorder, highlighting the importance of network-level analysis in understanding and treating the condition.