Genetic study finds new risk factors for restless legs syndrome in diverse populations

For years, scientists mostly studied the genes of people with European ancestry when looking at restless legs syndrome. This left out millions of others who suffer from the same uncomfortable urge to move their legs. A new analysis changes that picture by looking at genetic data from thousands of people across different backgrounds. The team examined DNA from over 150,000 people in African ancestry groups, nearly 100,000 in Latin American ancestry groups, and more than 600,000 in European ancestry groups. They used a method called genome-wide association analyses to find specific gene spots linked to the condition. The results show that some known genetic markers appear less often in African ancestry groups and did not reach the standard for strong proof in those populations. However, the study did find new genetic links near genes called GYPC and TEX51 in African ancestry groups and near ISX in Latin American ancestry groups. In European ancestry groups, researchers confirmed 50 known links and found 11 new ones. When combining data from all groups, the team identified ten new genetic locations that contribute to the risk of restless legs syndrome. This work broadens our understanding of the disease beyond just one population. It shows that both shared and unique genetic factors play a role depending on ancestry. This knowledge helps build a more complete picture of why some people get restless legs syndrome while others do not.