Higher perceived stress and exacerbated motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease during the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand.

AIMS:Stress plays a key role in Parkinson's disease (PD) by acting on the dopaminergic system and worsening patients' motor function. The impact of New Zealand's strict lockdown measures to contain COVID-19 on perceived stress and PD motor symptoms remains unknown. Here we examined the relationship between perceived levels of stress, changes in physical activity levels and PD motor symptoms during lockdown. METHODS:During lockdown, 134 participants with PD and 49 controls completed a survey assessing perceived stress, self-reported changes in PD motor symptoms and physical activity duration and intensity prior to and during lockdown. RESULTS:Perceived stress was higher in PD than controls, and in those reporting a worsening of tremor, balance/gait, dyskinesia and bradykinesia compared to those indicating no change during the COVID-19 lockdown. These effects were not modulated by physical activity. CONCLUSIONS:Reducing stressors may be an important adjunct treatment strategy to improve motor function in PD.