Objectives: COVID-19 lockdowns were introduced to control the pandemic, however, they resulted in a global disruption of daily life and of individual and global health. Reduced accessibility of health services, unavailability of food and drugs, and mental health challenges had a huge impact on older people and on people living with disabling conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD). We assessed whether and to what extent the more disabled and vulnerable people with Parkinson's (PwP) were affected by lockdowns.
Method: We analysed responses collected through a web-based survey of PwP according to their self-sufficiency [self-sufficient (SS); nearly self-sufficient (nSS); non-self-sufficient, cared for by family (NSS/F); non-self-sufficient, needs professional care (NSS/PC)].
Results: Fears due to COVID-19 and difficulties with food supply were highest in NSS/F PwP. Difficulties with the supply of Parkinson's medication or other drugs were apparently not an issue, while problems accessing primary care physicians and neurologists were similar across all patient groups. On the contrary, difficulties with daily and motor activities were higher in NSS/F and NSS/PC PwP. PwP symptoms worsened in all groups, with NSS/F and NSS/PC participants experiencing the worst deterioration. Notably, the deterioration of PwP symptoms was specifically related to changes in daily and motor activities, with participants who reported less engagement in daily and motor activities experiencing the worst deterioration.
Conclusion: Findings strongly support the need for decision-makers and healthcare providers to carefully re-evaluate the risk-benefit ratio of limiting healthcare accessibility for PwP, since evidence shows that lockdown measures primarily impact the groups who are most fragile and vulnerable.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2388770 | DOI Listing |
Ann Neurosci
October 2024
Department of Pathology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss, Lewy body build-up, and motor dysfunction. One of the primary pathogenic mechanisms of PD development is autophagy dysfunction and nitric oxide-mediated neurotoxicity.
Purpose: The current study focuses on autophagy and nitric oxide (NO) signaling roles in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-intoxicated PD mice and their protection by their modulators.
Eur J Neurol
January 2025
Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
Background And Purpose: Adopting telemedicine (TM) enables improved access to specialized care and reduces barriers. The aim was to assess the cost-utility of a coadjutant multidisciplinary TM programme for fall prevention compared to standard in-office visits for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Methods: This was an 8-month single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Background: Critical care nurses are vulnerable to depression, which not only lead to poor well-being and increased turnover intention, but also affect their working performances and organizational productivity as well. Work related factors are important drivers of depressive symptoms. However, the non-liner and multi-directional relationships between job demands-resources and depressive symptoms in critical care nurses has not been adequately analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Sci
January 2025
Research Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Rome, Italy.
Background: Fear of Falling (FOF) significantly affects Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients by limiting daily activities and reducing quality of life (QoL). Though common in PD, the relation between FOF, mobility, and QoL remains unclear. This study examines the connections between FOF, gait, daily motor activity, and QoL in PD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
Previously, boost and sag effects seen in unfused tetanic contractions have been studied exclusively at constant stimulation frequency. However, intervals between successive discharges of motoneurons vary during voluntary movements. We therefore aimed to test whether the extra-efficient force production at the onset of contraction (boost) occurs during stimulation with variable intervals, and to what extent it depends on the level of interpulse interval (IPI) variability and history of stimulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!