GEHIRN

The effects of Covid-19 on Parkinson's patients

The coronavirus pandemic is regaining momentum. On Saturday 26th September, in the Ile de France region, 11 deaths were recorded in 24 hours and 343 people are in intensive care. The average age of the latter is 60 years old. The elderly are therefore the main targets of covid-19. In some cases, the effects of Covid-19 are severe brain damage. Parkinson's disease is a disease affecting the brain following a slow and progressive death of neurons. In this sense, a resurgence of degenerative diseases is to be feared in the near future.

An update on the most common symptoms of Covid-19

The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever in 88% of cases, dry cough in 68% and fatigue in 38%. Loss of taste and smell is also common. This is due to blockage of the olfactory cleft by mucus and swelling of tissue. The virus causes a generalised inflammation of the body. Persistent redness, which can be painful, can suddenly appear, as well as temporary urticaria lesions. Generally, people with coronavirus have a fever and mild breathing problems 5 to 6 days after contracting the virus. Otherwise, the following signs may be effects of Covid-19, depending on the patient:

The essential symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The most common signs of Parkinson's disease are akinesia, tremors and stiffness. Knowing these allows us to anticipate the effects of Covid-19 on the patient. Akinesia in Parkinson's disease is characterized by slow movement. The patient may be unable to perform voluntary or involuntary actions, complex or precise gestures, simultaneous movements. The tremor of the Parkinson's patient consists of a tremor which is maximal at rest. It diminishes with movement, then disappears when the person is asleep. Stiffness consists of extreme tension in the muscles, leading to cramps or pain in the muscles or tendons. In addition to these three main symptoms of the disease, there are other non- motor signs that promote certain changes related to Parkinson's disease. These are:

Depression is the most common non-motor symptom, which may be an effect of Covid-19.

The risk for the Parkinsonian with the effects of Covid-19

Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease do not have an increased risk of contracting the coronavirus. There are no effects of Covid-19 on the Parkinson's patient. In the event of infection, patients with advanced Parkinson's disease may develop serious complications. But with the right treatment, he or she can get over it. Also, as a person at risk, the Parkinsonian must comply with certain rules. Indeed, the situation has become alarming again in France today, with 81 deaths and more than 4,000 new cases in 24 hours. The Parkinsonian is thus obliged to reduce contact with other people as much as possible. If he has to do his shopping, he must do it at times when the traffic is rather calm. Trips without an essential reason are to be postponed, another effect of the Covid-19. Similarly, very busy places should be avoided. Above all, it is essential not to take public transport. Email and telephone are the best ways to keep in touch with loved ones so as not to feel isolated.

The effects of Covid-19 on Parkinson's patients

The effects of Covid-19 on the Parkinsonian and people with chronic disease are the difficulty in accessing life-saving care and coping with the disease. Indeed, with the confinement, and therefore the forced isolation to which the patient is forced to conform, his quality of life has changed. The concern is that doctors do not have accurate data on Covid-19 and its interaction with Parkinson's disease is also poorly understood. In any case, 55% of Parkinson's patients who tested positive for Covid-19 reported an increase in motor symptoms. Digestive problems, mood swings, fatigue and pain also worsened. Similarly, social and physical activities are disrupted so that the patient cannot exercise, another effect of Covid-19. These are vital for the Parkinsonian. Fortunately, technological aids allow them to practise them at home.