While many symptoms of Manganism are similar to those of Parkinson’s disease there are certain subtle differences which may help to distinguish people suffering from Manganism from those with “idiopathic” (i.e. cause unkown) Parkinson’s disease.
In a 2001 case-control study, Racette, compared the clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in fifteen welders with two control groups with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Racette observed that the welders had a younger onset age of the disease, 46 years old, as opposed to the control groups onset age of 63 years old. Interestingly, he found no significant differences in any motor functions tests between the welders and the control groups. He concluded that welding may be a possible risk factor for the development of a Parkinson’s—like syndrome. Although Racette stopped short of identifying manganese fumes as the cause of Parkinson’s in the welders, Racette stated that welding may be an accelerant and acknowledged that “[i]f welding contributes to the Parkinsonism in these [welders], presumably the accelerant would be inhaled, and the element in the inhalation most consistently associated with an extrapyramidal syndrome is manganese.”
Other researchers claim that tremors related to Manganism differ from those of Parkinson’s. Manganism tremors have sometimes been referred to as “intentional tremors”, as opposed to “resting tremors” associated with Parkinson’s. Welders suffering from Manganism are said to experience tremors when under “stress of use,” which occur during exercise of their extremities. For instance, welders suffering from Manganism frequently report experiencing tremors while engaging in intricate work (i.e. trying to steady their hands an orbital) or under regular (i.e. holding a cup of coffee or brushing their teeth). Conversely, the “resting tremor” synonymous with Parkinson’s disease is said to transpire when the patients’ hand is at rest under no strain of use.
There may be other differences between the two diseases. Dystonia, is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. These contractions force certain limbs into sometimes painful movements or postures. Dystonia may affect any part of the body including the arms, legs, trunk, neck, eyelids, face and vocal cords. Dystonia is displayed to some degree in Manganism, but is not generally present in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Other distinctions may be exposed after complex testing of the brain and often require assistance from a medical expert. While both Manganese and Parkinson’s patients may show a reduction of dopamine, norepinephrine, and neuromelanin as well as neuronal loss and gliosis in several areas of the brain, the actual areas of the brain which are affected may differ between the two conditions. The affected area in the brains of Manganism victims are usually the striatum and globus palidus. This is contrasted with that of the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s patients. Additionally, the striatum and globus palidus usually demonstrates only a reduced dopamine concentration in Parkison’s disease patients.
Other possible distinguishing symptoms of Manganim are the “cockwalk” (a type of staggering gait), difficulty in walking backwards, a tendency to fall backward when pushed, and occasionally psychiatric disturbances early in the course of the disease.
If you have been exposed to manganese fumes and suffer from symptoms of Manganism or Parkinson's disease, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. To contact an attorney who will review your claim fill out our free case evaluation form provided below. An attorney with the Sheff Law Offices, P.C. will review your claim and may contact you to discuss your rights.
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