Men suffering from restless legs syndrome are at greater risk of impotence, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Professional Sleep Societies, in Minneapolis. Researchers from Harvard University found that impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is more common found among men with restless legs syndrome. The study involved more than 11,000 middle-aged men suffering from impotence, diabetes or arthritis. The volunteers were asked a series of questions related to their health habits. From the results, it is clear that 1979 of the volunteers suffered from erectile dysfunction, and 50 of them had restless legs syndrome. The researchers did not take into account factors such as smoking, taking antidepressants and other medications, as well as possible chronic diseases. If restless legs syndrome occurs more than 14 times a month, the risk of men suffering from impotence is 68% greater, they found. the researchers. Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by discomfort in the limbs, leading to an overwhelming desire to move, during which the complaints subside. No matter how strange it sounds, such a condition exists, and with considerable frequency. In recent times, the topic has been widely discussed, the syndrome is diagnosed more and more often and becomes an occasion for in-depth scientific research in search of the cause and the possibilities of its treatment. Several criteria are used to make the diagnosis. Such is the feeling of discomfort that provokes the need to move the limbs, especially the legs; worsening of complaints at rest; relief of symptoms during active movement – completely or partially; worsening at night. The link between erectile dysfunction and restless legs syndrome may be caused by hypofunction of dopamine in the central nervous system, says study leader Dr. Gao Hiang. as preliminary to their publication in a peer-reviewed journal.