A report published in the January edition of 'Sleep' has revealed that the risk of erectile dysfunction in men shows a significant increase for older men suffering from the neurologic disorder called 'restless leg syndrome' (RLS).

As per the statistics put forth by a large study group, the adjusted risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) peaked up to 80 percent in men who reported recurrent occurrences of RLS, vis-à-vis their counterparts who did not have the syndrome.

For the study, the researchers observed 23,119 men - out of which 22,175 men had no history of RLS; 549 reported 5 to 14 occurrences of RLS symptoms in a month; and 395 reported 15 or more RLS occurrences in a month.

The researchers found that the RLS-associated ED risk, which was independent of factors like age, body mass index, anti-depressants' use, and anxiety, was 16 percent more in men undergoing
5-14 monthly episodes of RLS; and 78 percent more in men with 15 or more monthly episodes of RLS.

Noting that the results hint at common mechanisms behind both RLS and ED disorders, Xiang Gao, research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health, said: "The mechanisms underlying the association between RLS and erectile dysfunction could be caused by hypofunctioning - less than optimum functioning - of 'dopamine' in the central nervous system, which is associated with both conditions."