(Press-News.org)
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sleep disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often worsening at night. Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is marked by tremor, rigidity, and slowed movement. Both conditions are associated with dysfunction in the brain’s dopaminergic system, but their causal relationship has remained unclear.
A joint research team from Korea University Ansan Hospital, Pohang Stroke and Spine Hospital, and National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Republic of Korea, has now clarified that untreated RLS may increase the risk of developing PD, while dopamine-agonist (DA) therapy may significantly reduce that risk. The study was published online in Volume 8, Issue 10 of the journal JAMA Network Open on October 6, 2025.
This retrospective cohort study, led by Professor Jong Hun Kim from the Department of Neurology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Republic of Korea, analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Sample Cohort (2002–2019). The researchers identified 9,919 individuals with RLS and compared them with an equal number of matched controls without the condition.
Over a median follow-up of 15 years, PD developed in 1.6% of RLS patients compared with 1.0% of controls, confirming a heightened risk. When analyzed by treatment status, the results revealed a striking divergence. Patients with untreated RLS showed the highest PD incidence (2.1%) and an earlier onset whereas, DA-treated patients showed a markedly lower PD incidence (0.5%) and a delayed onset compared with controls.
“These findings indicate the existence of ‘heterogeneity within RLS’ which allows for multiple interpretations. One of the interpretations is that restless legs syndrome may serve as an early clinical marker for Parkinson’s disease, particularly among untreated individuals. Our results also indicate that DA therapy, used for symptom control, may confer protective benefits to the brain’s motor pathways,” explains Prof. Kim.
To strengthen the validity of their conclusions, the team employed target-trial emulation methods, an advanced analytical approach that reduces bias in observational research. This methodological rigor reinforces the biological plausibility of a link between RLS and PD rather than a mere overlap in symptoms.
The authors propose that beyond dopamine dysfunction, other factors—such as sleep disruption, iron deficiency, and immune or metabolic pathways—may mediate this association. The protective trend observed with DA therapy could reflect neuroprotective mechanisms or improved identification of genuine RLS cases that are distinct from early-stage PD.
“This dual pattern underscores the importance of recognizing and managing restless legs syndrome early,” adds Prof. Kim. “Monitoring and treating RLS may not only improve sleep quality but could also influence long-term neurological health.”
***
About Korea University College of Medicine
Korea University College of Medicine is the medical school of Korea University. It is located in Seoul, South Korea. As one of the oldest medical schools in South Korea, it has been historically regarded as one of the country's top medical schools. The school was founded as Chosun Women's Medical Training Institute in 1928 by Rosetta Sherwood Hall. The institute was subsequently renamed several times and ultimately merged with Korea University to become Korea University College of Medicine. So far, the school has produced over 7,000 graduates, most of whom are working as prominent physicians and public health advocates worldwide.
Website: https://medicine.korea.ac.kr/en/index.do
About Dr. Jong Hun Kim
Dr. Jong Hun Kim, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine. His research focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets through bioinformatics approaches.
END
Gerotor pumps for oil circulation and lubrication are crucial components in automotive and hydraulic systems. They possess a compact design, excellent flow rate per rotation, and high suction capability. The gerotor tooth profile plays a significant role in determining the overall performance of hydraulic systems for engine lubrication and automatic transmission. Unfortunately, conventional design methods leverage predefined mathematical curves and iterative adjustments, which compromises their optimization ...
Vision-language model (VLM) is a core technology of modern artificial intelligence (AI), and it can be used to represent different forms of expression or learning, such as photographs, illustrations, and sketches. It has high generalization ability, which allows it to accurately recognize objects in images within a domain. However, this generalization ability is at risk. For example, VLM recognizes both real cars and illustrated cars as “cars.” If this is installed in a system, there is a risk that a car illustrated in a roadside advertisement ...
For many nocturnal moths, hearing sound waves is a matter of survival in night sky. Their ability to detect ultrasonic calls emitted by bats determines whether they escape or become prey. This predator-prey relationship has shaped the behavior, physiology, and sensory systems of both groups. Echolocating bats have developed complex call patterns to track insects in flight, while moths have evolved remarkable countermeasures, including evasive flight and sound-deflection tactics. The luna moth, for instance, spins its long hindwings to deflect the ultrasonic ...
CHICAGO – Victims of intimate partner violence with suicidal behavior have characteristic injury patterns on medical imaging, according to a new study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The findings open the door to improved screening and earlier intervention to better protect these vulnerable populations, the researchers said.
Intimate partner violence is the physical, emotional or sexual abuse of a person by their partner or spouse. It is an increasingly recognized risk factor for suicidal behavior, and victims of intimate partner violence ...
CHICAGO – Researchers have conducted the first study evaluating the impact of obesity on Alzheimer’s disease blood biomarkers (BBMs). BBM values increased up to 95% faster in individuals with obesity than in non-obese individuals, according to a new study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
“This is the first time we’ve shown the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease as measured by blood biomarker tests,” said Cyrus ...
WASHINGTON -- A new study analyzing dozens of published papers over five decades focusing on health care disparities in Washington, DC, found that those that employed medical humanities approaches identified crucial barriers and opportunities for intervention that quantitative studies often miss.
Lead author Sweta Ghatti, a fourth year student at Georgetown School of Medicine, began the study as part of a Mitchell Summer Research Scholarship project addressing health challenges in the District. Ghatti worked closely with senior author Lakshmi Krishnan, MD, PhD, assistant professor ...
When cells proliferate, genomic DNA is precisely duplicated once per cell cycle. Abnormalities in this DNA replication process can cause alterations in genomic DNA, promoting cellular ageing, cancer, and genetic disorders. Therefore, understanding how cells replicate their DNA is crucial for elucidating fundamental biological processes, diseases, and even evolution.
Traditionally, DNA replication has been studied in microorganisms such as E. coli and yeast. In these organisms, the location where DNA replication begins (replication origin) is determined by a specific DNA sequence. However, in most eukaryotic cells, including human cells, the DNA sequence itself ...
[Vienna, 02 December, 2025] — A new study analyzing over 100 cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America has quantified the stark consequences of urban sprawl on water and sanitation access, finding that how cities grow might determine whether hundreds of millions of people have access to these basic necessities.
The analysis, conducted by researchers at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) and the World Bank, examined infrastructure data and economic indicators, including information on the footprint of 183 million buildings and 125,000 household surveys, to understand the relationship between urban form and access to clean water and sanitation.
The ...
A research team led by the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with multiple domestic and international research institutions, has made progress in investigating forest diversity patterns across China. The findings were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on December 2.
China is recognized by Conservation International as one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries. To effectively meet its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, it is crucial for China to clarify the fine-scale spatial patterns ...
On 2 December 1995 the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) blasted into space – on what was supposed to be a two-year mission.
From its outpost 1.5 million km away from Earth in the direction of the Sun, SOHO enjoys uninterrupted views of our star. It has provided a nearly continuous record of our Sun’s activity for close to three 11-year-long solar cycles.
"It is testament to the ingenuity of our engineers, operators and scientists, and to international ...
