Health Researcher to investigate brain stimulation as treatment for restless legs
Professor Hatice Tankisi from the Department of Clinical Medicine has just received a grant of DKK 6.2 million from the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The funds will support a project exploring treatment options for a common neurological disorder.
In a new international research project, a group of researchers will investigate the potential of treating Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).
RLS is a sensory-motor disorder that causes an uncomfortable urge to move the legs, especially while at rest. The causes of the condition are still unknown, and current treatments only alleviate the symptoms.
According to Hatice Tankisi, there is strong evidence suggesting that increased sensitivity – or excitability – in both the cerebral cortex and spinal cord plays a significant role in the development of the condition.
The new research project will therefore both explore the underlying mechanisms of the disease and test whether three types of brain stimulation could have a therapeutic effect.
“Restless Legs Syndrome affects the quality of life for many people, and we still know too little about what causes it. With this grant, we now have the opportunity to investigate whether advanced brain stimulation could be part of the solution,” says Professor Hatice Tankisi.
The researchers will study how brain stimulation affects both symptoms and activity in the brain as well as reflexes in the brainstem and spinal cord. The goal is to gain new insights that could pave the way for better treatment of RLS.
Contact
Professor Hatice Tankisi
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Email: hatice.tankisi@clin.au.dk