Progression of Parkinsonism and Exposure to Manganese in Welders

Manganese-associated parkinsonism is found to be progressive in a longitudinal study.

Manganese exposure has been linked to parkinsonism, but whether the syndrome is progressive remains unknown. To examine this association, movement disorders specialists longitudinally examined 886 welders in a trade union over a nearly 10-year period, calculating exposure to manganese based on work history. The investigators used a linear mixed-model regression analysis with cumulative manganese exposure as the independent variable. The primary outcome was change per year in the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor subsection.

Cumulative manganese exposure was indeed related to parkinsonism progression. The change in UPDRS motor scale score was 0.24 per year for each mg Mn/m³-year exposure. Upper-limb bradykinesia, upper- and…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)