The study author, Dr. Xiang Gao, said, "There is an association, but we don't know which one comes first." If researchers do discover how they're connected, it could lead to more effective treatments, he said.

Restless leg syndrome "afflicts a significant portion of our population and in a minority of cases can cause insomnia and other important consequences," said Dr. Robert Vorona, an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Virginia.

Vorona also said that some evidence suggests it's related to reduced levels of iron and the neurotransmitter known as dopamine in the brain. Those who have the neurological disorder complain of an almost irresistible urge to move their legs.

Another sleep disorder or sleep apnea, also has been linked to erectile dysfunction. And patients with erectile problems appear to do better when their sleep apnea is treated.

And for this current study, it makes sense that the two conditions might be linked "on a physiological basis," perhaps through dopamine.

Indeed, dopamine has been linked to both restless leg syndrome and erectile dysfunction. Dopamine plays an important role in many aspects of human health.


Source: Restless Legs Linked to Erectile Dysfunction