Our Super Dad has restless leg syndrome, but did you know that it is common in children and teenagers too. Our one-year-old adopted daughter constantly moves her legs in a running motion. When our daughter is sitting in the shopping cart, her car seat, and her highchair her legs are moving non-stop. Could our adopted daughter have restless leg syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) usually occurs in bed at the end of the day or while seated. RLS is a common neurological disorder where the legs seem compelled to move in an effort to get relief from an undesirable feeling. Each movement seems to cause the blood pressure to rise and may briefly awaken the person from sleep although they're often not aware of waking. This can lead to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue.

Super Dad runs marathons most of the night, every night, while I try to stay out of the way. Seventy percent of affected children have at least one parent with RLS. Wouldn’t it be ironic if our adopted daughter had RLS?

A research team from the University of Illinois in Urbana analyzed data from 10,523 families affected by RLS. They found that one percent of children between 8 and 11 and two percent of teens between 12 and 17 had RLS, based on the standard of National Institutes of Health criteria. Both boys and girls were affected about equally.

Icelandic researchers discovered a gene variant that is linked to RLS. The researchers discovered that the variant increases the odds of having RLS with periodic limb movements by 50 percent during sleep. Those with the gene variant were also discovered by the researchers to have low iron levels.

Iron assist the brain in the regulation of dopamine function. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is partially responsible for regulating sensation and movement. Medications that increase dopamine activity in the brain, such as ropinirole (Requip) or pramipexole (Mirapex), are effective in treating RLS. Antidepressants, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol may increase RLS symptoms.

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Photo Credit: 2007 Julia Fuller.