Brian B. Koo, MD
Associate ProfessorCards
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Director, Sleep Medicine Laboratory at Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Medicine
Director, Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome
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Director, Sleep Medicine Laboratory at Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Medicine
Director, Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome
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Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Director, Sleep Medicine Laboratory at Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Medicine
Director, Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome
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About
Titles
Associate Professor
Director, Sleep Medicine Laboratory at Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Medicine; Director, Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome
Biography
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA, 1995) and Tufts University School of Medicine (MD, 2001), Dr. Koo joined the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine faculty in 2008 and was subsequently recruited to Yale University in 2013. Dr. Koo’s primary clinical and research interest lies at the intersection between neurology and sleep medicine. Dr. Koo is particularly interested in the restless legs syndrome (RLS) and REM sleep behavior disorder and conducts patient-oriented clinical research to determine the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders. Dr. Koo is an international expert in the diagnosis, treatment, and investigation of restless legs syndrome and and treats patients with RLS from across the tri-state area. Currently, Dr. Koo's work focuses on assessing the role of the pro-opiomelanocortin-derived neuropeptides in RLS, and the role of autoimmunity in REM sleep behavior disorder. Other areas of research interest for Dr. Koo include the association between obstructive sleep apnea and wake-up stroke and the effects of cluster headache on quality of life.
Dr. Koo is director of the sleep laboratory at the Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and the director of the Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome, an RLS Foundation sponsored Quality Care Center. Dr. Koo sees patients with sleep disorders at both Yale and the West Haven VA and is dedicated to the care of patients with both neurologic and sleep disorders.
Appointments
Neurology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Adult Sleep Medicine Program
- Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research
- Movement Disorders
- Neurology
- Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine
- Restless Legs Syndrome Program
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Case Western Reserve University (2008)
- Fellowship
- Cleveland Clinic (2006)
- Residency
- Long Island Jewish Hospital (2005)
- MD
- Tufts University School of Medicine (2001)
- BA
- University of Pennsylvania, Biological Basis of Behavior (1995)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Andrey Zinchuk, MD, MHS
Jason Jonathon Sico, MD, MHS, FAHA, FAAN (Neurology), FANA, FACP
Nancy Schmieder Redeker, RN, MSN, PhD, FAHA, FAAN
Sangchoon Jeon, PhD
Christine Won, MD, MSc, BA
Sara Schaefer, MD, MHS, FAAN (Neurology)
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sleep
Stroke
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
Veterans
Publications
2024
The Melanocortin and Endorphin Neuropeptides in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome
Koo B, Abdelfattah A, Eysa A, Lu L. The Melanocortin and Endorphin Neuropeptides in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome. Annals Of Neurology 2024, 95: 688-699. PMID: 38308537, DOI: 10.1002/ana.26876.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsRestless legs syndromeRestless legs syndrome patientsRestless legs syndrome severityAdrenocorticotropin hormoneCerebrospinal fluidB-endorphinPro-opiomelanocortinA-MSHPlasma adrenocorticotropin hormoneRLS participantsInternational RLS Study Group Severity ScaleRLS patientsAssessed plasmaPain symptomsLumbar punctureA-melanocyte-stimulating hormoneMatched controlsPatientsHormoneSeverity ScaleSensory discomfortPlasmaSeverityMelanocortin hormonesHyperalgesia
2023
Can tonic motor activation be the magical elixir for restless legs syndrome?
Berkowski J, Koo B. Can tonic motor activation be the magical elixir for restless legs syndrome? Sleep 2023, 46: zsad230. PMID: 37671678, PMCID: PMC11240113, DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReview of the role of the endogenous opioid and melanocortin systems in the restless legs syndrome
Walters A, Li Y, Koo B, Ondo W, Weinstock L, Champion D, Afrin L, Karroum E, Bagai K, Spruyt K. Review of the role of the endogenous opioid and melanocortin systems in the restless legs syndrome. Brain 2023, 147: 26-38. PMID: 37633259, PMCID: PMC10796165, DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad283.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRestless legs syndromeMu-opioid receptorsRLS patientsEndogenous opioidsLegs syndromeOpioid receptorsSerum ironΒ-endorphinMelanocortin systemIdiopathic restless legs syndromeRLS-like symptomsPeriodic limb movementsLow serum ironWild-type miceSensory changesMelanocyte stimulating hormoneReceptor blockersSerum ferritinAutopsy studyStriatal dopamineAdrenocorticotropic hormoneStimulating hormoneDopaminergic systemMouse modelTherapeutic efficacyDifferential impact of resilience on demoralization and depression in Parkinson disease
de Figueiredo J, Zhu B, Patel A, Kohn R, Koo B, Louis E. Differential impact of resilience on demoralization and depression in Parkinson disease. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 1207019. PMID: 37559912, PMCID: PMC10408307, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1207019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricDevelopment and validation of a model predicting mild stroke severity on admission using electronic health record data
Waddell K, Myers L, Perkins A, Sico J, Sexson A, Burrone L, Taylor S, Koo B, Daggy J, Bravata D. Development and validation of a model predicting mild stroke severity on admission using electronic health record data. Journal Of Stroke And Cerebrovascular Diseases 2023, 32: 107255. PMID: 37473533, DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107255.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInitial stroke severityStroke severityElectronic health record dataHealth record dataSevere strokeIschemic strokeStroke careSample patientsMortality risk stratificationRecord dataVeterans Affairs hospitalMild stroke severityMultiple logistic regressionObservational cohortStroke outcomeIndependent predictorsRisk stratificationEHR data elementsPrimary analysisLogistic regressionStrokeValidation sampleSeverityPotent modifierEHR dataYou too can increase brain iron to treat restless legs syndrome
Koo B. You too can increase brain iron to treat restless legs syndrome. Sleep 2023, 46: zsad181. PMID: 37419490, DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad181.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsImpact of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on Veterans Health Administration Sleep Services
Sico J, Koo B, Perkins A, Burrone L, Sexson A, Myers L, Taylor S, Yarbrough W, Daggy J, Miech E, Bravata D. Impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on Veterans Health Administration Sleep Services. SAGE Open Medicine 2023, 11: 20503121231169388. PMID: 37152838, PMCID: PMC10158800, DOI: 10.1177/20503121231169388.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSleep servicesCoronavirus diseaseVeterans AffairsSleep medicine providersHome sleep testingVeterans Affairs facilitiesTransmission precautionsSleep testingVideo telehealthSleep studiesMedicine providersMedicine servicePre-pandemic surveyCare deliveryMedicine personnelClinicDiagnostic studiesDiseaseHigh rateSecond surveyPandemicPandemic periodHigh levelsOnline surveySeparate surveys
2022
Re-equip with opioids instead of dopamine agonists for the treatment of augmentation
Koo B. Re-equip with opioids instead of dopamine agonists for the treatment of augmentation. Sleep 2022, 45: zsac115. PMID: 35556146, DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
2021
The Management of Restless Legs Syndrome: An Updated Algorithm.
Silber MH, Buchfuhrer MJ, Earley CJ, Koo BB, Manconi M, Winkelman JW. The Management of Restless Legs Syndrome: An Updated Algorithm. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2021, 96: 1921-1937. PMID: 34218864, DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.12.026.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Hypothyroidism in restless legs syndrome
Ahmed N, Kandil M, Elfil M, Jamal A, Koo BB. Hypothyroidism in restless legs syndrome. Journal Of Sleep Research 2020, 30: e13091. PMID: 32483857, DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13091.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRestless legs syndromeLegs syndromeRLS severityHigh prevalenceInternational RLS Study Group Severity ScaleHypothyroid participantsHypothyroidism prevalenceRLS FoundationRLS pathophysiologyRLS sufferersRLS prevalenceHypothyroid subjectsThyroid diseaseHypothyroidismSeverity ScalePrevalenceLine registryStudy objectiveSyndromePotential research participantsBiological mechanismsSeverityParticipantsPersonsHyperthyroidism
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Intestinal Immunity in Neurologic Disease
HIC ID2000033081RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2023Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Sleep & Breathing
CommitteesMemberDetailsJournal Editorial Board06/01/2013 - Presentactivity Journal of Korean Sleep Research Society
CommitteesMemberDetailsJournal Editorial Board06/01/2012 - Presentactivity Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation
CommitteesMemberDetailsMedical advisory board RLS Foundation06/01/2015 - Presentactivity Sleep-Related Movement Disorders Steering Committee Member, American Academy of Sleep Medicine
CommitteesMemberDetailsSteering Committee06/01/2012 - 06/01/2015activity American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Restless Legs Syndrome Quality Care Task Force
CommitteesMemberDetailsRestless Legs Syndrome Quality Care Task Force09/01/2013 - 09/01/2014
Clinical Care
Overview
Brian B. Koo, MD, is an award-winning physician who combines his training in neurology and sleep medicine to treat patients with a wide variety of sleep disorders.
An internationally recognized expert in his field, Dr. Koo is the director of the Sleep Medicine Program at the Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, as well as director of the Yale Medicine Program for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). He works with patients who suffer from sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, RLS, sleep apnea and sleep issues caused by neurological conditions. “Sleep disorders are very treatable and we are almost always able to provide simple, effective treatments that can significantly and positively impact quality of life,” he says.
An assistant professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Koo is also an active researcher and author specializing in RLS, and one of the world’s foremost experts on the epidemiologic research that links periodic limb movements during sleep and cardiovascular disease.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Pediatric Movement Disorders
Learn More on Yale MedicineRestless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Sleep Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2017
- Original Certification Date
- 2007
Neurology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2016
- Original Certification Date
- 2006
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Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.