Restless Legs Syndrome News and Research

RSS

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.

The most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their job, personal relations, and activities of daily living are strongly affected as a result of their exhaustion. They are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks.

Rotigotine provides clinically relevant improvements in RLS symptoms: Study

UCB today announced the results of a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, published in the journal Movement Disorders, showing that Neupro® (rotigotine transdermal system, 2 and 3 mg/24 hours) provided sustained, clinically relevant improvements in symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). The study also showed high rates of complete remission seen with rotigotine 2 mg or 3 mg/24 hours.

29 Jul 2010

REM sleep behavior disorder may later lead to neurologic disorders

A new study shows that a sleep disorder may be a sign of dementia or Parkinson's disease up to 50 years before the disorders are diagnosed. The research is published in the July 28, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

29 Jul 2010

Preclinical data of new acamprosate prodrug to be presented at International Fragile X Conference

XenoPort, Inc. announced today that it has discovered a novel prodrug that has the potential to improve significantly the blood concentration of acamprosate compared with the currently approved formulation of acamprosate. Preclinical data on this new product candidate will be presented tomorrow at the National Fragile X Foundation's 12th International Fragile X Conference in Detroit, Michigan.

23 Jul 2010

GSK, XenoPort disappointed with GSK1838262/XP13512 phase 2b study for migraine headaches

GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort, Inc. announced today that GSK1838262/XP13512 (gabapentin enacarbil) did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo as a prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches. This phase 2b dose-ranging study evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of GSK1838262 in adults diagnosed with migraine headache (with or without aura) according to the International Headache Society criteria.

8 Jul 2010

New research identifies memory and brain scan as best tests for predicting Alzheimer's disease

New research has identified the memory and brain scan tests that appear to predict best whether a person with cognitive problems might develop Alzheimer's disease. The research is published in the June 30, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1 Jul 2010

Neupro improves wellbeing impaired by pain related to Restless Legs Syndrome

The first data to show that Neupro® (rotigotine transdermal system) significantly improved wellbeing and daily activities that are often impaired by pain related to Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) were presented this week at the 14th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

18 Jun 2010

Study finds anxiety/panic disorder as most-disabling psychiatric disorder associated with TS

An assessment of patients with adult Tourette syndrome (TS) to identify clinical factors that contribute to psychosocial and occupational disabilities resulting from the vocal or motor tics that define TS found that anxiety/panic disorder may be the most disabling psychiatric condition associated with the disorder.

18 Jun 2010

Study: Mentally active lifestyle may protect against memory and learning problems in MS

A new study shows that a mentally active lifestyle may protect against the memory and learning problems that often occur in multiple sclerosis. The study is published in the June 15, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

15 Jun 2010

Clinical trial data of XP19986, XP13512 to be presented at Associated Professional Sleep Society meeting

XenoPort announced today that data from clinical trials of its product candidates arbaclofen placarbil and XP13512 (gabapentin enacarbil) will be presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Society meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

7 Jun 2010

Traumatic brain injuries may disrupt sleep patterns, says study

People with brain injuries may produce low amounts of melatonin, which affects their sleep, according to a study published in the May 25, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

25 May 2010

Study finds familial restless legs syndrome more prominent among French Canadian women

Restless legs syndrome, which causes an irresistible desire to move legs, appears to be a hereditary condition that's more prominent among French Canadian women and may be caused by a combination of genetic influences and environmental effects. According to a large-scale study published in the Archives of Neurology, siblings of people affected by restless legs syndrome are three and a half times more likely to develop the disease.

11 May 2010

New study shows people with BAV more likely to have brain aneurysms

A new study shows that people with a common heart defect may also be more likely to have brain aneurysms. The study is published in the May 4, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

4 May 2010

New tool may help neurologists predict candidates for organ donation

A new tool may help neurologists predict which coma patients may be candidates for organ donation, according to a study published in the April 27, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 May 2010

European patent for XenoPort's investigational compound is valid

XenoPort, Inc. announced today that the European Patent Office (EPO) Opposition Division ruled that the European patent for the composition of matter of XP13512 (European Patent No. 1 404 324) is valid.

16 Apr 2010

Patients with RLS using rotigotine achieve sustained improvements

New data presented at the 62nd American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Toronto, Canada, showed that patients with moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome using rotigotine achieved sustained improvements in symptoms over 5 years of treatment.

15 Apr 2010

Uninsured migraine sufferers likely to get inadequate treatment: Neurology

People with no health insurance are less likely than the privately insured to receive proper treatment for their migraines, according to a study published in the April 13, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

13 Apr 2010

XenoPort to present arbaclofen placarbil, XP13512 trial data at 62nd American Academy of Neurology meeting

XenoPort announced today that new data from clinical trials of its product candidates arbaclofen placarbil and XP13512 (gabapentin enacarbil) will be presented at the 62nd Annual American Academy of Neurology meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

12 Apr 2010

FDA approves Mirapex ER tablets for signs and symptoms of idiopathic PD

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved once-daily Mirapex ER® (pramipexole dihydrochloride) extended-release tablets for the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which includes early and advanced PD. PD is the second most common chronic neurological disorder in older adults after Alzheimer's. Parkinson's disease has no cure.

26 Mar 2010

Rapidly declining memory in people with cognitive impairment may indicate stage before Alzheimer's disease

Memory and thinking skills may decline rapidly for people who have mild cognitive impairment, which is the stage before Alzheimer's disease when people have mild memory problems but no dementia symptoms, and even more rapidly when dementia begins, which is when Alzheimer's disease is usually diagnosed. The research is published in the March 23, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Mar 2010

Sleep deprivation may increase heart attack risk

On average, people go to work or school on the first Monday of Daylight Savings after sleeping 40 fewer minutes than normal. And recent studies have found there's a higher risk of heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries on the first Monday of Daylight Savings.

11 Mar 2010