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Restless Legs Syndrome and Menopause

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Sleep Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

There is no known pathophysiological link and, indeed, very little in the literature written about menopause and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Because the cellular mechanisms explaining the causality of RLS are unknown, much literature has focused on numerous associations in order to discover the etiology and pathophysiology of the disorder in men and women. Some widely held generalizations occur in the literature, including characterizions of the disorder as commonly occurring in middle to late age and with higher prevalence in women. Following this line of logic, one would naturally posit a relationship between RLS and menopause. However, as is discussed in this chapter, these widely held generalizations need to be reexamined in the context of recent epidemiological population- and patient-based data so that the information gathered from the clinical and basic sciences can best be integrated and possible mechanisms underlying RLS discovered, including what role, if any, changes associated with menopause may play in the disorder.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, North Chicago, IL

    Nancy S. Collins MD

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  1. Nancy S. Collins MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vermont Regional Sleep Center Department of Neurology, University of Vermont College of Medicine/Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT

    Hrayr P. Attarian MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Collins, N.S. (2006). Restless Legs Syndrome and Menopause. In: Attarian, H.P. (eds) Sleep Disorders in Women. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-115-4_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-115-4_17

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-592-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-115-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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