Prevalence of SRMD Across the Lifespan Sleep-Related Movement Disorders (SRMD) can occur across the lifespan. However, the prevalence of some sleep-related movement disorders is greater during childhood and then decreases as an individual ages, whereas the prevalence of other sleep-related movement disorders increases with age. The graphic below illustrates some of the common sleep-related movement disorders and their prevalence throughout an individual’s lifespan.
SleepRelated Bruxism Rhythmic Movement Disorder
• Children = 14-17% and decreases over the lifespan • Teenagers to young adults = 12% • Young to middle-aged adults = 8% • Older adults = 3% • 9 months of age = 59% • 18 months = 33% • 5 years old = only 5%
Restless Legs Syndrome
26 | Winter 2022 | Restless Legs Syndrome
• Older adults are more likely to be affected than are children and younger adults- the prevalence increases up to 60-70 years of age. • Prevalence is estimated to be around 2% in the pediatric population. • RLS symptom onset usually occurs before the patient is 30 years
old when a genetic component is present, but in cases without a genetic component, onset occurs later.
