Addressing the effects of COVID-19 on Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease patients

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Alzheimers disease (AD) and Parkinsons disease (AD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases affecting millions of people in Europe and worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of AD and PD and the associated socioeconomic costs and burden to the healthcare system are projected to escalate because of an ageing population. Despite multiple lines of AD- and PD-related research carried out over the past decades, providing several promising hypotheses, the aetiology of the diseases remains poorly understood. This is reflected in our limited ability to make an early diagnosis, and our inability to effectively treat and ultimately find a cure for the diseases. The urgent need to address this challenge is now accentuated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that COVID-19 affects vulnerable patient groups, including AD and PD patients, and we also have strong indications that, irrespective of a previous underlying condition, COVID-19 tends to affect the central nervous system, likely with long-term effects, whose exact nature and severity are currently unknown.This multidisciplinary expert working group, which includes members representing major AD and PD patient organizations, will provide best-practice guidelines and recommendations for a methodological framework aimed at understanding the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on the brain that relate to the susceptibility for the development and the progression of AD and PD. Specifically, the groups recommendations will aim to facilitate a multilevel, collaborative response between different European countries towards two main objectives:(i) Provide recommendations for best-practice guidelines for the follow-up of patients infected with COVID-19 with special focus on risk of development and progression of AD and PD as well as facilitate the sharing and curation of relevant data among different countries.(ii) Outline a framework for selection, application and/or development of appropriate diagnostic methodology to help establish the relationship between COVID-19 infection and AD and PD disease onset and progression.