Manganese toxicity resembles which disease?

• A. Parkinson's disease
• B. Wilson's disease
• C. Alzheimer's disease
• D. Menkes disease

Answer: (A)

Manganese toxicity produces a parkinsonian syndrome known as manganism, so it closely resembles Parkinson's disease clinically. Chronic exposure to manganese leads to motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and gait disturbances due to basal ganglia involvement, particularly the globus pallidus. While it mimics Parkinson’s, it often features prominent gait dystonia and tends to respond poorly to standard levodopa therapy, and imaging may show pallidal changes from manganese deposition. This link to parkinsonian features is why the correct association is Parkinson's disease.