Living near golf courses has always been regarded as beneficial to your well-being and health. After all, golfing is exercise; you are outdoors and surrounded by nature. What could possibly go wrong? Well, according to a new study, people living within a mile of a golf course have a 126% higher chance of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to individuals living more than six miles away. The study on the risk of living near golf courses was recently published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). Let’s take a deeper look at their findings.
Why Living Near Golf Courses Increases Your Parkinson’s Risk
According to the study, areas that shared water supplies with golf courses were most at risk. The study’s researchers suggest that the pesticides used on golf courses could potentially be contributing to the increase in Parkinson’s disease. They reached this conclusion after examining the data of golf course locations along with data on 224 different water service areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. To help determine the correlation between case prevalence and proximity, data from 711 different municipal wells were also examined.
During the course of the study, 450 cases of Parkinson’s were identified in Olmsted County from 1991 to 2015. According to the authors of the study, “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.” Previous studies have already found an association between pesticide chemicals like rotenone and paraquat with neurodegeneration.
Parkinson’s is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetics. It affects the nervous system, resulting in symptoms such as stiff muscles, slow movement, and tremors. The initial symptoms often include difficulty walking, slurred speech, and a lack of facial expressions. Incidents of the condition are higher in areas like the Rust Belt, including parts of the Midwest. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the number is also quite high in places such as Southeastern Texas, Florida, Southern California, and Pennsylvania.
Conclusion Of The Study On The Dangers Of Living Near Gold Courses
The study concluded that living within one to three miles of a golf course more than doubled your chances of developing Parkinson’s. Additionally, drinking water sourced from municipal wells close to the golf courses may also be risky. While golf itself is not necessarily the issue, it’s how the grounds are treated with pesticides that needs to be addressed. Reducing these types of environmental factors could significantly reduce Parkinson’s risk. Researchers feel that it is vital that we move from reactive treatments to proactive and practical preventative measures. Researchers suggest additional research is needed to determine the relationship between pesticides, golf courses, and Parkinson’s disease prevalence. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, an additional 90,000 people will be diagnosed in 2025, with the total number of patients anticipated to reach 1.2 million by 2030.
Golf courses typically represent leisure and wellness for many people. However, this new study provides a sobering reminder of the hidden dangers in the world around us. The potential link between pesticide use on golf courses and Parkinson’s disease emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring chemical exposure in residential areas. As the number of Parkinson’s cases increases across the country, addressing environmental safety issues may become an important public health strategy. Ongoing studies will be required to better understand the long-term effects of living near golf courses and to inform policy decisions that protect our communities.
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