Study: living near a golf course can increase risk of Parkinson’s Disease

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that living too close to a golf course can significantly increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. The research does not establish a strict cause-and-effect relationship between golf course proximity and Parkinson’s Disease. However, it highlights a “complex interaction” between environmental factors and genetics that increases susceptibility to the disease. One of the key environmental factors is the constant use of pesticides on golf courses to maintain aesthetic standards. According to the study, pesticide application to golf courses in the US is 15 times higher than in European countries.
The researchers identified 419 Parkinson’s Disease cases close to golf courses using the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP). They also used medical records to confirm both the disease diagnosis and its onset time. Finally, they looked for the home address of the patients 2 or 3 years before their diagnosis. The data showed that living at different distances from courses varied the disease risk. People living within 1 mile of a course were over 100% more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease than those living over 6 miles away. People who shared a water service area with a course were twice as likely to develop the disease compared to individuals who did not share a water service. However, the paper recognizes that the relationship between golf courses, water sources, and Parkinson’s Disease is complex and nuanced. Water distribution systems vary from city to city and therefore it is possible that not all individuals within the same water service area share the same water resource. Moreover, different soil types affect the degree to which pesticides and other chemical contaminants reach the groundwater. The research also does not consider air pollutants that could also contribute to the disease.
Despite these limits, the authors believe their work highlights a significant association between living close to golf courses and the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. This risk appears higher in individuals sharing the same water service area with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions.