Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is commonly referred to as nocturnal myoclonus syndrome, or sleep-related myoclonus syndrome. Sleep studies often find periodic limb movements in individuals, but that alone does not warrant a PLMD diagnosis in the absence of other clinical symptoms.
Epidemiology
4%-11% of individuals are affected by this condition. Its prevalence was found to be 3.9% according to a European study, but the study was based just on a screening questionnaire, due to which the prevalence is likely inaccurate.
According to this study, the risk factors for PLMD were female gender, stress, caffeine intake, shifts in work, and older age. Other studies have observed that black individuals are not as commonly affected by PLMD as white people.
Anatomy
Pathophysiology
The pathogenesis of this illness is still unclear. Older studies hypothesized subcortical or cortical involvement in PLMD patients, but recent research suggests that the movement is generated through the spinal cord due to the condition’s clinical similarity to the spinal flexor withdrawal reflex.
It’s suspected that increased limb movement during sleep could be because of the hyperexcitability of spinal flexor pathways during non-REM sleep. A factor which might trigger theses pathways could be dopamine deficiency.
Etiology
The exact cause of PLMD is unclear, but it is very closely associated with RLS. 80%-90% individuals with restless leg syndrome have PLMD. Other conditions like uremia, spinal cord tumors, ADHD, REM behavioral disorders, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea are also associated with this disorder.
A PLMD diagnosis should only be made with the presence of subjective sleep complaints suggesting PLMD without the presence of other sleep-related conditions. Certain medications such as TCAs, SSRIs, and dopamine blockers could potentially increase PLMD risk.
Other risk factors associated with this condition include family history of restless leg syndrome, and genes such as BTBD9, and MEIS1 which are linked with RLS might be responsible for the increased incidence of PLMS.
Genetics
Prognostic Factors
According to a sleep study from 2012, interventions do not reduce periodic limb movement, but they improve sleep efficiency, sleep quality at night, and causes natural sleep stages. Medications such as dopamine agonists are generally effective in doing so.
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is commonly referred to as nocturnal myoclonus syndrome, or sleep-related myoclonus syndrome. Sleep studies often find periodic limb movements in individuals, but that alone does not warrant a PLMD diagnosis in the absence of other clinical symptoms.
4%-11% of individuals are affected by this condition. Its prevalence was found to be 3.9% according to a European study, but the study was based just on a screening questionnaire, due to which the prevalence is likely inaccurate.
According to this study, the risk factors for PLMD were female gender, stress, caffeine intake, shifts in work, and older age. Other studies have observed that black individuals are not as commonly affected by PLMD as white people.
The pathogenesis of this illness is still unclear. Older studies hypothesized subcortical or cortical involvement in PLMD patients, but recent research suggests that the movement is generated through the spinal cord due to the condition’s clinical similarity to the spinal flexor withdrawal reflex.
It’s suspected that increased limb movement during sleep could be because of the hyperexcitability of spinal flexor pathways during non-REM sleep. A factor which might trigger theses pathways could be dopamine deficiency.
The exact cause of PLMD is unclear, but it is very closely associated with RLS. 80%-90% individuals with restless leg syndrome have PLMD. Other conditions like uremia, spinal cord tumors, ADHD, REM behavioral disorders, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea are also associated with this disorder.
A PLMD diagnosis should only be made with the presence of subjective sleep complaints suggesting PLMD without the presence of other sleep-related conditions. Certain medications such as TCAs, SSRIs, and dopamine blockers could potentially increase PLMD risk.
Other risk factors associated with this condition include family history of restless leg syndrome, and genes such as BTBD9, and MEIS1 which are linked with RLS might be responsible for the increased incidence of PLMS.
According to a sleep study from 2012, interventions do not reduce periodic limb movement, but they improve sleep efficiency, sleep quality at night, and causes natural sleep stages. Medications such as dopamine agonists are generally effective in doing so.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560727/
medtigo
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Updated :
February 21, 2024
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is commonly referred to as nocturnal myoclonus syndrome, or sleep-related myoclonus syndrome. Sleep studies often find periodic limb movements in individuals, but that alone does not warrant a PLMD diagnosis in the absence of other clinical symptoms.
4%-11% of individuals are affected by this condition. Its prevalence was found to be 3.9% according to a European study, but the study was based just on a screening questionnaire, due to which the prevalence is likely inaccurate.
According to this study, the risk factors for PLMD were female gender, stress, caffeine intake, shifts in work, and older age. Other studies have observed that black individuals are not as commonly affected by PLMD as white people.
The pathogenesis of this illness is still unclear. Older studies hypothesized subcortical or cortical involvement in PLMD patients, but recent research suggests that the movement is generated through the spinal cord due to the condition’s clinical similarity to the spinal flexor withdrawal reflex.
It’s suspected that increased limb movement during sleep could be because of the hyperexcitability of spinal flexor pathways during non-REM sleep. A factor which might trigger theses pathways could be dopamine deficiency.
The exact cause of PLMD is unclear, but it is very closely associated with RLS. 80%-90% individuals with restless leg syndrome have PLMD. Other conditions like uremia, spinal cord tumors, ADHD, REM behavioral disorders, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea are also associated with this disorder.
A PLMD diagnosis should only be made with the presence of subjective sleep complaints suggesting PLMD without the presence of other sleep-related conditions. Certain medications such as TCAs, SSRIs, and dopamine blockers could potentially increase PLMD risk.
Other risk factors associated with this condition include family history of restless leg syndrome, and genes such as BTBD9, and MEIS1 which are linked with RLS might be responsible for the increased incidence of PLMS.
According to a sleep study from 2012, interventions do not reduce periodic limb movement, but they improve sleep efficiency, sleep quality at night, and causes natural sleep stages. Medications such as dopamine agonists are generally effective in doing so.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560727/
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