Restless legs syndrome is a common sleep disorder, and studies implicate a genetic basis and thus an inherited tendency to develop the disorder. SNPs in at least five chromosomal regions, including MEIS1/rs2300478, have been reported to be associated with increased risk for restless legs syndrome. [PMID 17637780, PMID 18660810]
Note: the name for this disorder is in the process of changing to Willis-Ekbom disease.[1]
The chromosomal regions mentioned in connection with restless legs syndrome include:
- The MEIS1 gene region on chromosome 2p, including SNPs:
- The BTBD9 gene region on chromosome 6p, including SNPs:
- A region on chromosome 15q, possibly involving the MAP2K5 gene, including SNPs: