Unaldi Karaer, HaticeKaplan, YukselKurt, SemihaDemirturk, Fazli2024-08-042024-08-0420141302-1664https://hdl.handle.net/11616/96557Background: Animal and human studies have shown that estrogen modulates dopaminergic activity. The hypoestrogenic state associated with menopause, characterized by a decreased ovarian follicular response to gonadotropins and estrogen, affects the nervous system at multiple anatomical or functional sites. Aims: We investigated the prevalence of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in postmenopausal females and assessed the relationship between RLS and the clinical features of menopause. Methods: We enrolled 523 menopausal females in the study. Of those, 334 (63.86%) did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded. Of the remaining 189 postmenopausal patients, 73 met all of the diagnostic criteria for RLS; however, 47 of those had at least one factor related to secondary RLS and were excluded from the study. The remaining 26 (18.3%) postmenopausal patients with idiopathic RLS were categorized as group 1. The control group included 56 postmenopausal females free of RLS and matched by age (+2 years) to group 1. Results: Onset age of menopause was earlier and surgical menopause was more frequent in group 1. The Pearson's correlation test revealed a strong and significant correlation between the onset ages of menopause and RLS. Conclusions: Estrogen receptors are widely distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Estrogen modulates dopaminergic activity in the nigrostriatal system. Menopause is characterized by hypoestrogenemia, and may be a risk factor for the development or worsening of RLS symptoms.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessMenopauseRestless Legs SyndromeEstrogenHypoestrogenemiaArticle3135785852-s2.0-84907272065N/AWOS:000347120800014Q4