News and Updates
In Memoriam PD Dr. med. Cornelius G. Bachmann
1 February 1969 – 31 March 2026
The European and International Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Study Groups mourn the sudden and unexpected loss of our colleague and friend, Cornelius Bachmann. He was 57 years old.
Cornelius devoted his scientific life to understanding the neurophysiological foundations of RLS. With characteristic intensity, he probed the excitability of cortical, spinal, and peripheral circuits in search of the mechanisms that drive this disorder, and translated those insights into novel stimulation-based therapies. RLS research was not merely his profession; it was his calling. He pursued it with a wholeness of commitment that inspired everyone around him. Beyond his scientific work, he had an extraordinary talent for building patient care infrastructure – most notably a very large sleep diagnostic center including an outpatient unit in Osnabrück, Germany – and gave generously of his time to patients, answering their questions with the same dedication he brought to his research.
That someone so full of energy and purpose could be taken from us so abruptly is a stark reminder of the fragility at the heart of all human life.
Science has lost an original mind. Patients have lost a fierce advocate. We have lost a dear friend.
The EURLSSG and IRLSSG extend their deepest condolences to his family.
Ambra Stefani and John Winkelman
For the EURLSSG and IRLSSG
Updated Criteria for Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep: Troina 2025
Troina, November 14-15, 2025
A major international meeting on the diagnostic standards for Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS) has just concluded at the IRCCS Oasi Maria SS. Institute in Troina, Italy. PLMS is among the most widely studied sleep-related movement disorders due to its significant impact on sleep quality and daily functioning.
From November 13 to 16, 25 leading experts from around the world worked together to refine the scientific criteria that underpin the diagnosis of this condition, which affects a considerable portion of the general population.
The event, organized by Drs. Raffaele Ferri and Stephany Fulda, and endorsed by the World Sleep Society (WSS), the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG), and the European RLS Study Group (EURLSSG), marks the third time Troina has hosted such a high-level gathering, following previous milestone meetings in 2005 and 2015.
The outcomes of this collaborative effort will now be consolidated into a consensus document to be published in Sleep Medicine. These updated standards will guide more accurate diagnosis worldwide and foster the development of future research to better clarify the neurophysiological mechanisms and health consequences of PLMS.