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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and restless legs syndrome: the iron hypothesis

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and restless legs syndrome: the iron hypothesis
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and restless legs syndrome: the iron hypothesis
Preliminary but increasing evidence suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome (TS), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be comorbid. In the present article, we hypothesize that ADHD, TS, and RLS may be part of a spectrum, and that iron deficiency contributes to the pathophysiology underlying this spectrum. Iron deficiency might lead to ADHD, RLS and TS symptoms via its impact on the metabolism of dopamine and other catecholamines, which have been involved into the pathophysiology of ADHD, TS, and RLS. We speculate that the catecholaminergic systems are differently impacted in each of the three disorders, contributing to a different specific phenotypic expression of iron deficiency. MRI studies assessing brain iron levels in ADHD, TS, and childhood RLS, as well as genetic studies on the specific molecular pathways involved in iron deficiency, are greatly needed to confirm the iron hypothesis underlying ADHD, TS, and RLS. This body of research may set the basis for controlled trials assessing the effectiveness and tolerability, as well as the most appropriate dose, duration and type (oral vs. intravenous) of iron supplementation. In conclusion, the iron hypothesis may help us progress in the understanding of pathophysiological links between ADHD, RLS, and TS, suggesting that iron supplementation might be effective for all these three impairing conditions
0306-9877
1128-1132
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla
5325874e-719c-4763-8a4a-f9ffe2288e12
Mouren, Marie Christine
669d7146-dcf8-4d60-8eb0-d25e8c70c9cc
Sbarbati, Andrea
e84eaf6b-84a4-4967-b1c6-42b996922a8c
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla
5325874e-719c-4763-8a4a-f9ffe2288e12
Mouren, Marie Christine
669d7146-dcf8-4d60-8eb0-d25e8c70c9cc
Sbarbati, Andrea
e84eaf6b-84a4-4967-b1c6-42b996922a8c
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb

Cortese, Samuele, Lecendreux, Michel, Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla, Mouren, Marie Christine, Sbarbati, Andrea and Konofal, Eric (2008) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and restless legs syndrome: the iron hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses, 70 (6), 1128-1132. (doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.10.013). (PMID:18164140)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Preliminary but increasing evidence suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome (TS), and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be comorbid. In the present article, we hypothesize that ADHD, TS, and RLS may be part of a spectrum, and that iron deficiency contributes to the pathophysiology underlying this spectrum. Iron deficiency might lead to ADHD, RLS and TS symptoms via its impact on the metabolism of dopamine and other catecholamines, which have been involved into the pathophysiology of ADHD, TS, and RLS. We speculate that the catecholaminergic systems are differently impacted in each of the three disorders, contributing to a different specific phenotypic expression of iron deficiency. MRI studies assessing brain iron levels in ADHD, TS, and childhood RLS, as well as genetic studies on the specific molecular pathways involved in iron deficiency, are greatly needed to confirm the iron hypothesis underlying ADHD, TS, and RLS. This body of research may set the basis for controlled trials assessing the effectiveness and tolerability, as well as the most appropriate dose, duration and type (oral vs. intravenous) of iron supplementation. In conclusion, the iron hypothesis may help us progress in the understanding of pathophysiological links between ADHD, RLS, and TS, suggesting that iron supplementation might be effective for all these three impairing conditions

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 21 October 2007
Published date: 2008
Organisations: Clinical Neuroscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 380454
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380454
ISSN: 0306-9877
PURE UUID: 75d26a93-bbd4-4757-8654-79ba039f6a2c
ORCID for Samuele Cortese: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-8075

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Date deposited: 11 Sep 2015 08:08
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:52

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Contributors

Author: Samuele Cortese ORCID iD
Author: Michel Lecendreux
Author: Bernardo Dalla Bernardina
Author: Marie Christine Mouren
Author: Andrea Sbarbati
Author: Eric Konofal

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