Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

Background: COVID-19-related social restrictions provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of social isolation on Parkinson’s disease. Objective: This study aimed to explore changes in social isolation and their associations with PD symptoms using the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R...

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Main Authors: Anish Mehta, Samuel Y.E. Ng, Shermyn X.M. Neo, Nicole S.Y. Chia, Ehsan S. Saffari, Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam, Xinyi Choi, Dede L. Heng, Z.Y. Xu, K.Y. Tay, W.L. Au, E.K. Tan, Louis C.S. Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590112524000641
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author Anish Mehta
Samuel Y.E. Ng
Shermyn X.M. Neo
Nicole S.Y. Chia
Ehsan S. Saffari
Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam
Xinyi Choi
Dede L. Heng
Z.Y. Xu
K.Y. Tay
W.L. Au
E.K. Tan
Louis C.S. Tan
author_facet Anish Mehta
Samuel Y.E. Ng
Shermyn X.M. Neo
Nicole S.Y. Chia
Ehsan S. Saffari
Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam
Xinyi Choi
Dede L. Heng
Z.Y. Xu
K.Y. Tay
W.L. Au
E.K. Tan
Louis C.S. Tan
author_sort Anish Mehta
collection DOAJ
description Background: COVID-19-related social restrictions provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of social isolation on Parkinson’s disease. Objective: This study aimed to explore changes in social isolation and their associations with PD symptoms using the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R). Methods: Data from 80 participants of the Early Parkinson’s Disease Longitudinal Singapore cohort were collected from April 2019 to April 2023, covering the periods before and after the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions. Individuals with LSNS-R scores ≤ 24 were considered socially isolated. Data were stratified into strata 1 (improved LSNS-R scores) and strata 2 (worsened/unchanged scores). Linear regression was used to identify predictors of LSNS-R change, and MANCOVA was used to examine associations between LSNS-R change and motor/ non-motor symptoms. Results: Mean LSNS-R scores decreased (p = 0.014), and proportions of social isolation increased (p < 0. 001) during COVID-19 restrictions. However, 35 % showed improved LSNS-R scores, while 65 % had worsened/unchanged scores. The regression model was significant in strata 1 (R2 = 0.806, p = 0.001), with age, marital status, and social isolation status being significantly associated with change in LSNS-R scores. LSNS-R. Results of MANCOVA indicated that LSNS-R improvements in LSNS-R were significantly associated with outcomes (Roy’s Largest Root statistic = 126.638, p < 0.001), particularly for changes in PDQ8, HADS-Anxiety, and HADS-Depression scores. The regression model was not significant in strata 2 (R2 = 0. 279, p = 0.206), wherein motor and non-motor symptoms worsened. Conclusion: While worsening LSNS-R scores were associated with poorer outcomes, improvements in social networks were associated with improved non-motor symptoms and quality of life. These findings underscore the complexity of social isolation in PD and the need for targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-b6036433d3cc44608c746a9a3df6efab2024-12-12T05:22:27ZengElsevierClinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders2590-11252025-01-0112100293Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal studyAnish Mehta0Samuel Y.E. Ng1Shermyn X.M. Neo2Nicole S.Y. Chia3Ehsan S. Saffari4Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam5Xinyi Choi6Dede L. Heng7Z.Y. Xu8K.Y. Tay9W.L. Au10E.K. Tan11Louis C.S. Tan12Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; Department of Neurology, Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, IndiaDepartment of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeCentre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Clinical Research, Iqure Health Sciences Private Limited, Bengaluru, IndiaDepartment of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; Department of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, SingaporeDepartment of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; Department of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore; Corresponding author at: Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore.Background: COVID-19-related social restrictions provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of social isolation on Parkinson’s disease. Objective: This study aimed to explore changes in social isolation and their associations with PD symptoms using the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R). Methods: Data from 80 participants of the Early Parkinson’s Disease Longitudinal Singapore cohort were collected from April 2019 to April 2023, covering the periods before and after the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions. Individuals with LSNS-R scores ≤ 24 were considered socially isolated. Data were stratified into strata 1 (improved LSNS-R scores) and strata 2 (worsened/unchanged scores). Linear regression was used to identify predictors of LSNS-R change, and MANCOVA was used to examine associations between LSNS-R change and motor/ non-motor symptoms. Results: Mean LSNS-R scores decreased (p = 0.014), and proportions of social isolation increased (p < 0. 001) during COVID-19 restrictions. However, 35 % showed improved LSNS-R scores, while 65 % had worsened/unchanged scores. The regression model was significant in strata 1 (R2 = 0.806, p = 0.001), with age, marital status, and social isolation status being significantly associated with change in LSNS-R scores. LSNS-R. Results of MANCOVA indicated that LSNS-R improvements in LSNS-R were significantly associated with outcomes (Roy’s Largest Root statistic = 126.638, p < 0.001), particularly for changes in PDQ8, HADS-Anxiety, and HADS-Depression scores. The regression model was not significant in strata 2 (R2 = 0. 279, p = 0.206), wherein motor and non-motor symptoms worsened. Conclusion: While worsening LSNS-R scores were associated with poorer outcomes, improvements in social networks were associated with improved non-motor symptoms and quality of life. These findings underscore the complexity of social isolation in PD and the need for targeted interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590112524000641Parkinson’s diseaseSocial networksCOVID-19 related social restrictionsLubben Social Network ScaleLongitudinal study
spellingShingle Anish Mehta
Samuel Y.E. Ng
Shermyn X.M. Neo
Nicole S.Y. Chia
Ehsan S. Saffari
Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam
Xinyi Choi
Dede L. Heng
Z.Y. Xu
K.Y. Tay
W.L. Au
E.K. Tan
Louis C.S. Tan
Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
Parkinson’s disease
Social networks
COVID-19 related social restrictions
Lubben Social Network Scale
Longitudinal study
title Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
title_full Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
title_fullStr Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
title_short Assessment of social isolation and changes in Parkinson’s disease symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study
title_sort assessment of social isolation and changes in parkinson s disease symptoms during the covid 19 pandemic a longitudinal study
topic Parkinson’s disease
Social networks
COVID-19 related social restrictions
Lubben Social Network Scale
Longitudinal study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590112524000641
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