An international team led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Helmholtz Center has carried out a large genome-wide association study on the genetic causes of restless legs syndrome (RLS). They discovered 13 new genetic risk variants and identified underlying candidate biological processes.
Patients with RLS experience a strong urge to move at night and suffer from unpleasant sensations such as pain or tingling in the legs. Up to 10% of the European population is affected. Many of those affected have to contend not only with the actual symptoms but also with consequences such as sleep deficiency, depression, or anxiety. In severe cases, patients have to take medication throughout life.