Generally, respiratory infections such as pneumonia can be more common in people diagnosed withParkinsons disease.
They are not, however, necessarily at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection occurring.
More research is needed due to mixed results.
iStockphoto / Getty Images
That, coupled with age over 50 years, can be a risk factor.
Parkinson’s disease itself does not appear to increase the risk of COVID-19 infection.
However, it can make it harder for you to recover and increases the likelihood of complications during recovery.
Can COVID-19 Cause Parkinson’s?
Other studies don’t find evidence that COVID can cause PD.
It’s possible that new findings will emerge with longer study timelines.
Talk with your healthcare provider about drug interactions before starting a new treatment.
Can PD Drugs Be Used to Treat COVID-19?
Existing drugs used to treat PD may offer new benefits in treating COVID-19.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 remains important.
Keep in mind that Parkinson’s disease increases your risk for severe illness with COVID-19.
It remains unclear how a COVID-19 infection might increase the risk of a PD diagnosis in the future.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed.
As new research becomes available, well update this article.
For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Parkinson’s Foundation.Top questions and answers on COVID-19 and Parkinson’s disease.
Boura I, Chaudhuri KR.Coronavirus disease 2019 and related parkinsonism: the clinical evidence thus far.Movement Disord Clin Pract.
2022;9(5):584-593. doi:10.1002/mdc3.13461
American Parkinson Disease Association.2023 update: COVID-19 and Parkinsons disease.
2020;35(11):1914-1915. doi:10.1002/mds.28325
Parkinson’s Foundation.COVID-19.
Xu E, Xie Y, Al-Aly Z.Long-term neurologic outcomes of COVID-19.Nat Med.
2021;219:368374. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.151
Parkinsons Foundation.Exercise.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself & others.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with certain medical conditions and COVID-19 risk factors.
