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More often than not, the cause of restless legs is a mystery. There may be a genetic predisposition or environmental trigger. There may be a connection between restless legs and low iron levels in the brain. Even when the blood tests show that your iron level is normal. Restless legs may be linked to a disruption in the dopamine pathways in the brain. Parkinson’s disease is also related to dopamine. That may explain why many people with Parkinson’s also have restless legs.
Some of the same medications are used to treat both conditions. It’s possible that certain substances like caffeine or alcohol can trigger or intensify symptoms. Other potential causes include medications used to treat allergies, nausea, and depression.
Restless legs episodes usually occur in the evening. Symptoms are often worse shortly after midnight and disappear by morning. If the condition becomes more severe, people may begin to have symptoms during the day, but the problem is always worse at night.
