LIVING near a golf course might come with more than just scenic views – it could carry a hidden health risk.
A new study has revealed a troubling connection between proximity to golf courses and the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Living near a golf course may raise your risk of Parkinson’s disease, a new study has found (stock image)[/caption]
Living within one mile of a golf course was linked to a 126% increase in odds of developing Parkinson (stock image)[/caption]
The research focused on residents in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, where pesticide use on golf courses may be a key factor.
Led by the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, along with Mayo Clinic, the study analyzed 419 Parkinson’s patients with a control group.
Data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project between 1991 and 2015 helped researchers compare Parkinson’s patients with a control group.
The greatest risk was seen in people living one to three miles from a golf course and the expansive lawns that come with it.
Living within one mile of a fairway was linked to a 126% increase in odds of developing Parkinson’s, the study found.
Those in water service areas that included a golf course had nearly double the risk compared to areas without one.
The risk jumped 82% for people living in under water service areas that also had vulnerable groundwater.
“Pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of PD [Parkinson’s disease] for nearby residents,” researchers concluded in the study, published in JAMA Network Open.
“The strongest effects were in municipal water service areas with a golf course and in regions with vulnerable groundwater based on the bedrock and topography,” lead author Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D told Fox News.
She added, “We speculate that pesticides might play a role. However, we didn’t include data on pesticides in this study, so future research is needed to better understand what’s going on.”
Medical director of the MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Mary Ann Picone, who was not involved in the research, weighed in on the findings.
“There has often been discussion regarding risks for development of Parkinson’s disease and environmental agents such as pesticides,” she told Fox News.
“Further research is needed with larger groups of patients, but this study does increase the concern about the association between pesticide exposure and risk of Parkinson’s,” Picone added.
She also warned that airborne exposure to pesticides could contribute to the risk.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
PARKINSON’S is a progressive neurological condition.
This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine in their brain because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working.
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK.
It’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
Symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly.
This usually happens around the age of 50, but some people might see the first signs in their 40s.
There are over 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are:
- A tremor (shaking)
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
There are several different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage the condition.
Source: Parkinson’s UK
The study did not measure individual levels of pesticide exposure, which researchers noted as a limitation.
“There are many other aspects as well that can interfere with developing a disease,” said senior author Dr. Rodolfo Savica of the Mayo Clinic.
Researchers admitted the results may not apply to all areas, since the study focused on a region with hot, humid summers where pesticide use may be higher.
Other risk factors, like head injuries or genetics were also not considered in the study.
DEVELOPING PARKINSON’S
Krzyzanowski pointed out that Parkinson’s can take decades to develop, so the focus was on exposure from years ago.
“If pesticides were involved, they would be the ones sprayed a long time ago and that might be different from what’s being sprayed today,” she said.
Picone echoed that point, adding the research looked at exposure going back to 2013 or earlier.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America pushed back on the study’s implications.
“Public health experts and researchers who have reviewed the study have noted that the study’s methodological limitations make it difficult to draw conclusions from the data,” the group said in a statement.
They added that all pesticides used on golf courses are registered by the EPA and don’t create “unreasonable adverse effects” when applied properly.
Mayo Clinic’s Savica said older adults should still enjoy being active and social.
“I recommend people continue to play sports outdoors and enjoy the sociality of any activity, including playing golf,” he said.
But he also advised people to be cautious around areas where pesticide exposure may be possible.
