Case Report Summary: Can COVID-19 Cause Parkinson’s Symptoms?

COVID-19 is a big topic of discussion in our household. My dad has been vaccinated because he recognizes that Parkinson's disease (PD) puts him in a high-risk category. And he hopes to do everything he can to reduce the stress in his life.

COVID-19 research is still in its infancy. We're just starting to learn about the virus's short and long-term effects. But scientists are beginning to see a relationship to Parkinson’s.

In a previous article, I wrote about the risks associated with contracting COVID-19 if you have Parkinson’s disease. But now it seems that there are a few case reports of COVID-19 patients developing Parkinson’s-like symptoms after the fact, too.

Developing Parkinson's symptoms

In 2020, Dr. Bundin, the director of Neurogenerative Science at Van Andel Institute, suggested that those who contract COVID-19 may be at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.¹

His published reports showed 3 cases of COVID-19 patients who exhibited Parkinson’s-like symptoms soon after their contraction. These patients did not have a family history of Parkinson's and did not have any known PD symptoms.¹

Since my Dad already has Parkinson's, we're not particularly concerned about a diagnosis. But we're both worried that more people might end up going through the disease. It's a horrible, thieving, and cruel process.

A case study

In one case, a 35-year old woman developed symptoms that could be attributed to Parkinson’s disease after 10 days of COVID-19 symptoms. She didn’t require hospitalization, but after her recovery, she began to experience symptoms like rigidity, slowness, and a change in her vocal tone.²

This woman’s Parkinson's-like symptoms continued to show themselves over the following weeks. And a low dose of levodopa helped to improve those symptoms.²

The doctors on this case say: "In conclusion, we report a case of levodopa-responsive parkinsonism probably caused by direct SARS-CoV-2 infection, broadening the disease clinical spectrum."²

There have been other reports of Parkinson’s-like symptoms appearing in some people after contracting COVID-19. But an important thing to note is that it’s possible that COVID-19 may have caused those with pre-existing Parkinson’s conditions to become symptomatic. So, it isn’t yet clear whether these Parkinson’s cases have been caused by the virus.³

Additional COVID damage

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, COVID-19 can actually damage the breathing muscles. Such infringements on the respiratory system may require post-COVID rehabilitation. In some cases, permanent scarring and damage may take place.⁴

Those who require intensive care after contracting COVID-19 may be at a higher risk of experiencing damage to the nerves, muscles, and nervous system.⁴

It makes us nervous to know that COVID-19 could worsen my dad's symptoms and create more misery for others. And, in alignment with much of this, it's also frightening to consider what we still don't know.

Awaiting more research

As of right now, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says: "It is unknown if injury to the nervous system or other body organs cause lingering effects that will resolve over time, or whether COVID-19 infection sets up a more persistent or even chronic disorder."⁴

But it’s possible that we’ll continue to see in-depth research on this matter in the future. It remains to be seen if or how COVID-19 relates to Parkinson’s, yet early case reports seem to suggest a connection between the 2.