It is estimated that between 7 and 10% of the world’s population suffers from restless leg syndrome or impatient. However, despite the high prevalence of this condition, the mechanisms responsible remain poorly understood to this day. Researchers have suggested the involvement of adenosine in the development of restlessness. Health on the net reports on the discovery of a new pathological mechanism of Restless Legs.
What mechanisms cause restless legs syndrome?
Although it concerns nearly one in ten people, still little is known regarding the restless leg syndrome, a condition that can profoundly alter the quality of life of the patient and those around him. Indeed, not only does this syndrome alter the duration and quality of sleep, but it also increases:
In impatience, another name given to restless legs syndrome, inactivity and rest, especially at night, cause the symptoms and the patient must move to feel better. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in this condition are not clearly known, although researchers speculate that several mechanisms are involved.
Restless legs mechanism, the mechanism of finger-pointing adenosine
Among one of the mechanisms evoked to explain the restless leg syndrome, iron deficiency is one of the most studied hypotheses. Researchers have suggested a new mechanism involving another compound,adenosine.
To know ! Adenosine is a compound that occurs naturally in the body. It is also a vasodilator drug, used in the treatment of tachycardia (abnormal accelerations of the heart rate)
To reach this conclusion, the researchers worked on an animal model, the rat. They highlighted too low levels of adenosine outside the cells, in rats with restless legs syndrome.
Towards new treatments for impatience
According to their data, one of the pathogenetic mechanisms of restless leg syndrome might involve type A1 receptors of theadenosine.
To know ! There are several types of A1, A2 and A3 adenosine receptors, which are present in different regions of the body and perform different functions. The caffeine in coffee, for example, acts on type A1 and A2 receptors.
Further studies are obviously needed to confirm in humans the involvement of adenosine in the development and symptoms of restless legs syndrome. If the results obtained in rats are confirmed, new therapeutic strategies capable of acting specifically on type A1 adenosine receptors might be developed for the treatment of impatience.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
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