In restless legs syndrome, patients feel sensations of discomfort in their legs when they are sleeping or not active. Moving or stimulating the legs relieves the discomfort. RLS can cause interrupted sleep and fatigue or sleepiness during the day. ADHD is a genetic, biochemical disorder characterized by inattention, restlessness, distractibility and impulsivity. Twenty-one of the 33 patients and controls with possible ADHD underwent additional, objective psychological testing.
Researchers have a few theories why the disorders appear to be linked.
D., of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey . And being tired from having your sleep disrupted could cause people to be more inattentive. Another theory is that both disorders may be caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for transmitting signals within the brain. A lack of dopamine can leave patients unable to control their movements normally.