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01-12-2014 | Original Article

The higher prevalence of non-right handers among patients with restless leg syndrome

Authors: Shadi Ghourchian, Parviz Bahrami

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 12/2014

Abstract

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common disorder described as an urge to move the legs. Dopamine, the main neuro-transmitter in the pathophysiology of RLS, is likely related to the development of brain laterality and human handedness. We aimed to compare the prevalence of RLS in right and non-right handers. A checklist including Edinburgh questioner for handedness, questions for RLS diagnosis and basic characteristics was filled out by a sample of population. The exclusion criteria included prolonged use of dopaminergic or psychologic drugs and having diseases with similar symptoms to RLS. The frequency of non-right handers in RLS patients was compared with the controls by Chi square test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. 164 persons were divided into RLS patients (69) and non-RLS controls (95). There was no significant difference between demographic characteristics. The prevalence of non-right handers in RLS patients was significantly more than non-RLS controls (P: 0.03). Our finding regarding the higher prevalence of non-right handers in RLS patients needs more justifications based on neuroscientists’ guides. RLS as a disease in which dopaminergic system involves is highly assumed to be linked with handedness. This is just a hypothesis that impaired modulation of immune system in left handers may be accompanied with lower dopamine levels in RLS.

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Title: The higher prevalence of non-right handers among patients with restless leg syndrome
Authors: Shadi Ghourchian
Parviz Bahrami
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 12/2014
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-014-1860-z

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The higher prevalence of non-right handers among patients with restless leg syndrome

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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