Dr. Mahlon DeLong discusses the dopamine connection. RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an urge to move them for relief. It is estimated that the majority of RLS patients also have PLMD, a movement disorder characterized by repetitive stereotyped movements of the limbs, primarily the legs, during sleep. Narcolepsy is a disabling neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and wakefulness. The causes of RLS, PLMD, parkinsonism and narcolepsy are unknown, but all are thought to involve central dopamine mechanisms, and all of the conditions react to dopaminergic agents.
Dopamine is a chemical messenger that transmits impulses from one nerve cell to another.
On the first day of the meeting, which was held at the NIH Neuroscience Center, workshop leaders provided a scientific overview of what is known about dopamine and the four disorders. Roundtable and working group discussions on the role dopamine plays in each disorder were held on the second day. Greater understanding of the role of dopamine in these disorders may provide a key to new treatment and prevention strategies. She said a number of the scientists who attended are devoting renewed attention to the dopamine connection in these disorders. Dr. Charlotte McCutchen organized the workshop.