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COVID-19 Cases in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Parkinson's sufferers with a 12.7-year average disease duration might face increased risk of COVID-19 infection, as hinted by a forthcoming publication in Movement Disorders. Furthermore, the study suggests that those with longer Parkinson's duration who contract COVID-19 may experience a...

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Long-term Parkinson's patients, specifically those with an average of 12.7 years of diagnosis,...
Long-term Parkinson's patients, specifically those with an average of 12.7 years of diagnosis, might be at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Moreover, data from a 10-case series indicates a potentially higher mortality rate (40%) for these individuals if they contract the virus.

COVID-19 Cases in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Parkinson's Patients May Face Higher Risks From COVID-19

Hang on tight, folks. It seems that individuals battling Parkinson's for an average of 12.7 years might be more susceptible to catching COVID-19, as per a research paper set to be published in the journal Movement Disorders.

Sadly, those with Parkinson's and a longer illness duration who test positive for the coronavirus might face a more deadly outcome, according to a 10-case study. Forty percent of these patients unfortunately didn't make it through. People on advanced therapies like infusions of levodopa or deep brain stimulation seemed to be in the crosshairs of this deadly virus.

Researchers dug into the cases of two individuals in Italy and eight in the United Kingdom, who had an average age of 78.3 years. Five of these unfortunate patients needed an increased dosage of Levodopa during their COVID-19 treatment.

But why are Parkinson's patients more vulnerable to COVID-19? It could be due to the rigidity of their respiratory muscles and a weakened cough reflex, alongside existing shortness of breath.

There's been chatter for a while now about a link between Parkinson's and COVID-19. For over two decades, scientists have discovered that antibodies to Coronaviruses lurk in the bodies of people with Parkinson's, hinting at a possible infectious process behind the disease's onset.

COVID-19 and Parkinson's share the loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) as symptoms, which is fascinating because the ability of Coronaviruses to infiltrate the brain through the nasal passages plays a role in both conditions.

Now, let's delve a bit deeper into the connection between COVID-19 and Parkinson's. Emerging evidence suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause neuroinflammation, which could worsen or even initiate neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's by boosting the accumulation of toxic proteins like alpha-synuclein. Studies also point to COVID-19 being associated with higher risks of developing neurological conditions, including parkinsonism, within months following infection.

While specific data on mortality rates for Parkinson's patients infected with COVID-19 is scarce, people with Parkinson's generally have a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 due to their underlying health issues.

As for the mechanisms behind this potential link, SARS-CoV-2 can enter the brain via multiple routes, leading to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and triggering neuroinflammation. The infection also appears to increase the aggregation of pathological proteins, contributing to disease progression. Also, oxidative stress and vascular damage play their part in neurodegenerative processes. Lastly, changes in the immune system, which have been linked to Parkinson's disease, might be a factor in the relationship between COVID-19 and PD.

All told, the evidence seems to suggest a possible link between COVID-19 and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's-like symptoms or worsening existing neurodegenerative conditions. Key mechanisms involve neuroinflammation, proteinopathies, and immune system alterations. However, we've still got a long way to go in understanding these relationships thoroughly.

And there you have it, folks - more evidence pile-up to support the idea that COVID-19 could be linked to Parkinson's disease. Keep an eye on this one as researchers continue to unravel the mysteries behind these conditions.

Source: Practical Neurology

Enrichment Data:

The relationship between COVID-19 and Parkinson's disease involves several key areas of investigation, including increased susceptibility, mortality rates, and potential mechanisms.

## Increased Susceptibility + Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to neuroinflammation, which may exacerbate or initiate neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) by promoting the aggregation of pathological proteins such as alpha-synuclein[2]. + Cognitive and Motor Impacts: COVID-19 infection is associated with higher risks of developing neurological conditions, including parkinsonism, within months following infection[3].

## Mortality Rate While specific data on mortality rates for Parkinson's patients infected with COVID-19 is not detailed in the current literature, individuals with PD are generally considered at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 due to their underlying health conditions[1].

## Potential Mechanisms + Viral Entry and Neuroinflammation: SARS-CoV-2 can enter the central nervous system (CNS) through various routes, leading to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and triggering neuroinflammation, which involves the activation of microglia and astrocytes and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines[2]. + Proteinopathies and Oxidative Stress: The infection accelerates the aggregation of pathological proteins, contributing to disease progression. Additionally, oxidative stress and vascular damage are implicated in neurodegenerative processes[2]. + Immune System Alterations: Changes in the immune system have been linked to Parkinson's disease, suggesting that immune dysregulation might play a role in the relationship between COVID-19 and PD[4].

  1. The relationship between COVID-19 and Parkinson's disease involves increased susceptibility, as research suggests SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to neuroinflammation, potentially aggravating or even starting neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.
  2. Evidence points towards SARS-CoV-2 infections being associated with higher risks of developing neurological conditions, including parkinsonism, within months of the infection.
  3. People with Parkinson's, in general, have a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 due to their underlying health conditions, although specific mortality rates for Parkinson's patients infected with COVID-19 are not well-detailed in current literature.
  4. COVID-19's potential link to Parkinson's disease may be explained by various mechanisms, such as viral entry and neuroinflammation, proteinopathies and oxidative stress, and immune system alterations.

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