Can living near golf courses give you Parkinson’s? New study reveals how

Parkinson’s disease represents the world’s second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition, following Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive disorder leads to gradual damage in the brain, which ultimately affects motor control and cognition, as noted by the National Health Service (NHS). In the UK alone, approximately 145,000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease, according to Parkinson’s UK, a charity dedicated to the condition.

Researchers found that those living within a mile of golf courses have 126% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than those who live more than six miles away, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Read on to know more.

What does the study say?

Recent research has revealed a concerning link between living in close proximity to golf courses and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, individuals residing within a mile of a golf course may see their risk of this debilitating neurodegenerative disorder more than double. Researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona conducted a comprehensive analysis of health records from residents near 139 golf courses located in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Data from 711 municipal wells provided by the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office was also used to determine the correlation between proximity and prevalence of cases.

During the study, 450 incident cases from 1991 to 2015 were identified in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

“The odds of PD were relatively constant within close proximity to a golf course and decreased linearly as distance increased; individuals living farther from a golf course had reduced odds of PD, decreasing relative to the distance from the nearest golf course,” the study explained.

Previous studies have already linked chemicals found in pesticides including paraquat and rotenone to neurodegeneration, according to the study.

Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski, one of the authors of the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, emphasized the potential role of pesticides utilized to maintain golf courses in this heightened risk. She stated, “These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of Parkinson’s disease for nearby residents.” The researchers advocate for public health initiatives aimed at minimizing both groundwater contamination and airborne pesticide exposure from golf course maintenance to mitigate the risk of Parkinson’s disease in adjacent neighborhoods.

What are the findings?

The study’s findings are particularly striking: individuals living within a mile of these courses have a 126% elevated chance of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in comparison to those who live more than six miles away. The research revealed a consistent trend, indicating that the likelihood of developing the disease diminishes by 13% for every additional mile of distance from the golf course, suggesting a clear, linear relationship between proximity to golf courses and Parkinson’s risk.

Areas that shared drinking water supplies with water used near golf courses were the most greatly impacted, the study shows. Researchers believe this shows that the pesticides used on golf courses could contribute to the number of Parkinson’s cases.

The study further revealed alarming statistics regarding drinking water sources; individuals who receive their water from areas near a golf course are nearly twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease compared to those whose water sources are unaffected by such proximity. Certain pesticides, notably paraquat and rotenone, have been associated with the onset of Parkinson-like neurodegeneration.

How to tackle:

As per the Parkinson’s Foundation, cases have been higher in areas such as the Rust Belt, which includes parts of the Midwest. Cases are also high in Southern California, Southeastern Texas, Central Pennsylvania, and Florida, according to the foundation.

In the context of pesticide regulation, it is important to note that both the UK and EU have stringent controls in place, including a ban on paraquat due to its significant health and environmental concerns. Dr. Katherine Fletcher, Research Lead at Parkinson’s UK, noted that, for most individuals in the UK, the risk of pesticide exposure leading to Parkinson’s is “extremely low.”

While the findings of this study buttress the association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Fletcher cautioned that the underlying causes of the condition are complex and multifaceted, likely involving a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental influences. Numerous investigations have sought to determine the extent to which pesticide exposure may elevate the risk of Parkinson’s across various populations globally, producing mixed results overall.

She remarked, “While this study supports the association between pesticides and Parkinson’s, it is somewhat simplistic and does not fully account for other potential exposure routes, such as occupational pesticide contact, nor does it consider genetic factors that may predispose individuals to the condition.” The study opens up further dialogue about the broader implications of pesticide use and public health, particularly in the context of environmental safety and community health.