December 11, 2025

Treating Restless Legs Slashes Risk of Parkinson's Disease

7 minutes

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) isn't just a sleep problem — it's a neurological signal that your brain's dopamine and iron systems are under stress, and addressing it early helps protect long-term brain health
A JAMA Network Open study found that people with RLS were significantly more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those without it
RLS patients who received treatment had four times fewer Parkinson's diagnoses than untreated individuals, suggesting that managing RLS symptoms supports neurological resilience
Iron levels, poor sleep quality, and disrupted waste clearance in the brain all appear to link RLS and Parkinson's, underscoring the importance of restoring iron balance and improving sleep hygiene
By optimizing dopamine naturally, maintaining healthy iron levels, getting quality sleep, and staying physically active during the day, you can calm restless legs now and strengthen your brain against degeneration later

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14871,487 ratings

December 11, 2025

7 minutes

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) isn't just a sleep problem — it's a neurological signal that your brain's dopamine and iron systems are under stress, and addressing it early helps protect long-term brain health
A JAMA Network Open study found that people with RLS were significantly more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those without it
RLS patients who received treatment had four times fewer Parkinson's diagnoses than untreated individuals, suggesting that managing RLS symptoms supports neurological resilience
Iron levels, poor sleep quality, and disrupted waste clearance in the brain all appear to link RLS and Parkinson's, underscoring the importance of restoring iron balance and improving sleep hygiene
By optimizing dopamine naturally, maintaining healthy iron levels, getting quality sleep, and staying physically active during the day, you can calm restless legs now and strengthen your brain against degeneration later

...more