A longitudinal study on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to psychological consequences on people’s mental health, representing a condition of increased vulnerability for the weakest sections of population, including elderly patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This longitudinal study aimed at exploring the impact of the most frequent non-motor symptoms and their contribute on health-related quality of life of PD patients after the COVID-19 outbreak, in comparison with the pre-pandemic status. METHODS: Forty-two non-demented PD patients underwent a first assessment between December 2018 and January 2020 (T0). Then, between March and May 2021 (T1), they were contacted again and asked to complete the second assessment. Levels of global functioning, several non-motor symptoms (i.e. depression, apathy, anxiety, anhedonia) and health-related quality of life were investigated. RESULTS: Results of the the paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that at T1, PD patients scored lower on the emotional subscale of the DAS, Z = − 2.49; p = 0.013; Cohen d(z) = 0.691. Higher scores of the TEPS total score, Z = − 2.38; p = 0.025; Cohen d(z) = 0.621, and LEDD, Z = − 2.63; p = 0.008; Cohen d(z) = 0.731, were also reported at T1. CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that self-isolation at home might lead to a reduction of apathy and anhedonia in PD patients due to the increase in social support provided by families during COVID-19 restrictions. This evidence brings out the need of a consistent and persistent social support which might be represented by caregivers or/and social assistive robotics.