Restless leg syndrome asociated to erectile dysfunction in older men

According to study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep, erectile dysfunction is more common in older men with restless leg syndrome (RLS) than in those without RLS. At the same time, study suggests the magnitude of this association increases with a higher frequency of RLS symptoms. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction also increased with age.

The associations in not dependent of possible risk factors for RLS such as age, body mass index, use of antidepressants, anxiety. The study leader thinks that the mechanisms underlying the association between RLS and erectile dysfunction could be caused by hypofunctioning of dopamine in the central nervous system. This hypofunctioning of dopamine, which is associated with both conditions, means that the two disorders share a common mechanism. [ more about erectile dysfunction ]