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Movement disorder symptoms associated with Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) in two manganese (Mn)-exposed communities
Citation:
Adams, S., Y. Kim, C. Wright, D. Lobdell, AND R. Bowler. Movement disorder symptoms associated with Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) in two manganese (Mn)-exposed communities. International Neuropsychological Society, Denver, CO, February 04 - 07, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
This study addresses research questions under Sustainable and Healthy Communities (2.2.1.6 lessons learned, best practices and stakeholder feedback from community and tribal participative case studies). This Regional Applied Research Effort project is a joint effort between Region 5 and ORD Scientists that examined neurotoxic effects of Mn within two communities: a high level air exposure community (East Liverpool, Ohio) and a mid to low range air exposure community (Marietta, Ohio). This work is important in that either positive results (differences between the high level air Mn exposure community and comparison communities) or negative results (little or no differences among communities) inform the issue of potential health effects of residential airborne Mn exposure, a recognized gap in Mn health effects literature. Both outcomes can also help inform the need for greater airborne Mn control.
Description:
Objectives: The UPDRS is a commonly used neurological measurement to assess the presence and severity of parkinsonian symptoms. It has also been used to assess symptoms associated with Mn exposure. Objectives: to determine 1) if movement disorder symptoms were associated with UPDRS: Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Motor abnormalities; and 2) which symptoms were most related to increased abnormalities on these UPDRS subscales. Participants & Methods: Correlations between self-reported movement disorder symptoms from a health questionnaire and scores obtained on UPDRS: ADL and Motor subscales, and the Bradykinesia domain of the Motor subscale, were assessed during a medical examination among 185 Mn-exposed participants from two Ohio towns. Partial correlations were used for statistical analyses, controlling for age, sex, education and a history of musculoskeletal disease.Results: The presence of movement disorder symptoms was positively associated with ADL (pr =0.647, p = <0.001), Motor (pr =0.449, p = <0.001), and Bradykinesia (pr =0.418, p = <0.001) domains on the UPDRS. Specific movement disorder symptoms most strongly associated with increased ADL and Motor scores included having difficulty getting out of chairs (pr =0.458, p = <0.001), writing (pr =0.481, p = <0.001), skilled movements (pr =0.478, p = <0.001), loss of coordination/balance (pr =0.457, p = <0.001), changes in walking (pr =0.412, p = <0.001) and slowness of movement (pr =0.539, p = <0.001).Conclusions: Participants in the low, but long-term Mn-exposed communities reported movement disorder symptoms associated with abnormalities on the UPDRS: ADL and Motor subscales, especially with symptoms of Bradykinesia and difficulty with skilled movements.Disclaimer: This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.