Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease and Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep in the Elderly with and without Dementia

Sleep Med Clin. 2015 Sep;10(3):331-42, xiv-xv. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.011. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Abstract

There is great interest in the study of sleep in healthy and cognitively impaired elderly. Sleep disorders have been related to quality of aging. Sleep-related movements are a frequent cause of disordered sleep and daytime sleepiness. Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) is often unrecognized in the elderly. This review explores RLS/WED in the elderly population. The elderly population may be subdivided into 3 groups: healthy, dependent, and frail. The RLS/WED could be a predictor for lower physical function; its burden on quality of life and health care-related costs, in the elderly, should be an important clinical and public health concern.

Keywords: Elderly; Restless legs syndrome; Sleep; Willis–Ekbom disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / therapy
  • Dementia / complications*
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Dementia / physiopathology
  • Dementia / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / complications*
  • Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / therapy*
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / complications*
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / therapy*