AJNN
Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology

Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology (formerly known as the Academic Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery, e-ISSN:3023-6517), deals with neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and clinical psychology accepts articles on these topics. Academic Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology publishes original research articles, review articles, case reports, editorial commentaries, letters to the editor, educational articles, and conference/meeting announcements.

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Restless legs syndrome: linking neuroanatomical mechanisms to clinical management
Abstract
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder that can markedly disturb sleep, daytime functioning, and quality of life. Patients usually describe an urge to move the legs, often with unpleasant sensations that are hard to localize or put into words. Symptoms arise or worsen during rest, ease with movement, and tend to be most prominent in the evening or at night. Diagnosis is clinical; it depends on recognizing this pattern and considering disorders that can mimic RLS, in line with the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria. RLS is not readily explained by a single pathway. Current evidence links the disorder to altered brain iron regulation, dopaminergic signaling, genetic susceptibility, basal ganglia circuitry, thalamocortical-somatosensory processing, and spinal sensorimotor pathways. These mechanisms provide a biological context for the sensorimotor features of the disorder. The management plan should be personalized, taking into account the symptom load, iron levels, co-morbidities, any secondary contributing factors, and other drugs that might aggravate the symptoms. Conservative measures may be sufficient for mild or intermittent symptoms, whereas persistent or disabling symptoms require tailored treatment. RLS is therefore better understood as a clinically important sensorimotor network disorder than as a simple sleep-related complaint.

Keywords : Restless legs syndrome, Willis-Ekbom disease, basal ganglia, brain iron metabolism, dopaminergic system, alpha-2-delta ligands

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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 70-76
https://doi.org/10.51271/AJNN-0055
Article Information
Received : 30 Haz 2026
Accepted : 03 Ağu 2026
Published : 29 Eyl 2026
Corresponding Author :

Serpil Çilingiroğlu Anlı: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, University, Kırıkkale, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Kuzyaka SB, Çilingiroğlu Anlı S. Restless legs syndrome: linking neuroanatomical mechanisms to clinical management. Acad J Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol 2026;3(3):70-76. doi:10.51271/AJNN-0055

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