A recent study led by researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute and Mayo Clinic suggests that living near golf courses might be linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The study, which was published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, found that people who live within one to two miles of a golf course have nearly three times the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The risk is even higher if these golf courses are located in areas where groundwater contamination is more likely.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects movement. Symptoms develop gradually and can include tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. While genetics play a role in PD, environmental factors like exposure to certain chemicals are also believed to increase risk.
Pesticides are one of the main environmental risks linked to Parkinson’s. These chemicals, often used to kill pests, are known to affect the nervous system. Golf courses in the United States are treated with pesticides at rates up to 15 times higher than those in Europe. These high levels of pesticides can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, potentially affecting drinking water supplies.
To explore this connection, the researchers conducted a large study in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They analyzed data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a medical records system covering 27 counties in the region.
The study included 419 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease between 1991 and 2015, as well as 5,113 people without the disease who were matched by age, sex, and other factors.
The researchers mapped the locations of golf courses using satellite images and calculated the distance between participants’ homes and the nearest golf course. They also looked at whether participants lived in areas where groundwater was vulnerable to contamination.
The findings were striking. People who lived one to two miles from a golf course had 198% higher odds of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those who lived further away.
Even people living two to three miles from a golf course had a 121% increased risk. The further away people lived from the golf course, the lower their risk became, dropping by about 13% for each additional mile beyond three miles.
The study also examined water service areas—regions supplied with water that may come from nearby golf courses. Living in a water service area with a golf course raised the odds of Parkinson’s disease by 96%, even if the person’s house was not right next to the golf course. This suggests that contamination of water supplies might be spreading the risk over a larger area.
Interestingly, the researchers also looked at the type of wells that supplied drinking water. Municipal wells, which are managed by local governments, did not show a significant change in Parkinson’s risk based on their depth or location near golf courses.
However, people who relied on private wells were still at risk, although their risk was slightly lower than those using municipal water. This part of the study hints that community water systems might be more susceptible to contamination.
The results of the study add to growing evidence that environmental factors, especially exposure to pesticides, could increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
This is especially concerning given how common golf courses are in many communities across the United States. The widespread use of pesticides on golf courses could be affecting the health of nearby residents, particularly in areas where groundwater is more easily contaminated.
To address these risks, public health experts suggest several strategies. First, improving how pesticides are applied on golf courses could reduce the risk of contamination. For example, using fewer pesticides or switching to less harmful alternatives could help.
Additionally, testing groundwater quality more frequently in areas around golf courses could help identify contamination before it becomes a larger problem. Finally, communities with vulnerable groundwater might consider protective measures to prevent contamination of their water supplies.
This study highlights the importance of considering environmental risks when looking at health outcomes. While more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how pesticides move through soil and water, this study suggests that living near golf courses could be a hidden risk factor for Parkinson’s disease.
Public health measures that reduce pesticide exposure and protect groundwater might help lower this risk for people living near golf courses.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health..
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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