ABSTRACT
Objective
To perform an updated review to assess the prevalence of restless legs syndrome and/or periodic limb movements in patients with dementia, besides the discussion about possible risk factors of these disorders.
Methods
A review was performed using the PubMed database, crossing the following descriptors: (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy’s body or frontotemporal dementia) and (restless legs syndrome or periodic leg movements).
Results
We selected seven articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prevalence of restless legs syndrome in elderly patients with dementia ranged from 4% to 24%. There were important differences in the method used to diagnose, sample size and causes of dementia.
Conclusion
More studies are necessary to refine the diagnostic criteria and to define risk factors, especially related to elderly patients with dementia. In addition, the health professionals need to pay attention to this comorbidity in clinical practice.
Dementia; sleep; restless legs syndrome