Restless legs syndrome in Parkinson's disease: epidemiology, pathogenetic overlaps, and clinical management

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are both classified as neurological movement disorders, and they may be interconnected due to abnormalities in the dopaminergic system. The incidence of RLS in PD patients is higher than that in the general population. And PD patients with RLS exhibit a higher age of onset, more severe depression, worse nutritional status, lower quality of life, and a relatively lower frequency and severity of RLS symptom. The current research has unveiled several potential mechanisms underlying RLS in PD patients, such as iron deficiency, reduced function of the dopamine system in the A11 region, and decreased connectivity of related pathways and so on. By systematically summarizing the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of PD with RLS, this paper not only provides ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of PD with RLS, but also lays a theoretical foundation for clarifying the intricate relationship between PD and RLS.