Association of Prodromal Parkinson's Disease‐Like Features in Long COVID With Dream‐Enactment Behaviours

Journal article

Emerging evidence links COVID‐19 to the predisposition of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the relationship between long COVID and prodromal PD‐like features remains unclear, particularly in long COVID participants with dream‐enactment behaviours (DEBs) that may be suggestive of possible REM sleep behaviour disorder. This study aimed to quantify the burden of prodromal PD‐like features in long COVID. This online survey (May–Nov 2021) across 16 countries/regions included 11,261 participants. Data on demographics, COVID‐19 diagnosis, long COVID symptoms, sleep features and other typical prodromal PD‐like features were collected. The likelihood ratio (LR) of prodromal PD was calculated as a proxy for each participant's overall burden of prodromal PD‐like features, based on the 2019 Movement Disorder Society research criteria. Participants with long COVID (n = 1155) exhibited more symptoms suggestive of prodromal PD‐like features, including DEBs, olfactory dysfunctions, constipation, excessive daytime sleepiness, postural dizziness, depression with/without anxiety, urinary dysfunctions, cognitive impairment and a higher LR of prodromal PD when compared to non‐COVID‐19 participants and COVID‐19 recoverees. Long COVID was associated with a 73% higher burden of potential prodromal PD‐like features (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57–1.90). Among those with long COVID, emergence or exacerbation of post‐infection DEBs further increased this burden by 38% (aOR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.19–1.60). Our study suggested that long COVID is associated with an increased burden of prodromal PD‐like features, which appears to be further enhanced with DEBs.

Authors: Gong, S; Liu, Y; Huang, B; Chan, NY; Partinen, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Journal of Sleep Research
• Pages: e70371
• Article number: e70371
• Publication date: 2026-05-31
• Acceptance date: 2026-05-13
• DOI: 10.1111/jsr.70371
• EISSN: 1365-2869
• ISSN: 0962-1105
• Language: English
• Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19); long COVID; prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD); neurodegeneration; dream enactment behaviours (DEBs); international COVID‐19 sleep study (ICOSS)