Golf Courses Raises Parkinson’s Disease Risk
new research: more evidence against glyphosate news?
A recent study published in JAMA newtwork open, has found that proximity to golf courses is associated with significantly increased odds of developing Parkinson’s disease.
what researchers found
What researchers found (source):
People living within 1 mile of a golf course had a 126% increased odds of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease compared to those living more than 6 miles away.
The risk remained elevated within a 3-mile radius of golf courses, but was highest in that 1-mile zone.
Those living near golf courses and in areas with high groundwater contamination risk had a 82% higher odds of Parkinson’s
That does not mean that golf courses are directly causing Parkinson's, but the authors of the study, have a hypothesis. They think that rampant pesticides on fairways and greens may be exposing nearby residents to toxic chemicals via the air and water.
Parkinson's disease is a complex neurological condition and in recent years, intense debate has raged over whether certain pesticides may increase the risk of neurodegeneration.
Farmers, for instance, have higher risks of Parkinson's, as do those who live in historically industrial regions. Studies in the lab show pesticides and air pollutants can be toxic to brain cells.
Many of the pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and synthetic fertilisers used to maintain the perfectly manicured greens, are persistent organic pollutants (POP’s).
Some of these POP’s are known to cross the blood-brain barrier and induce mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and alpha-synuclein aggregation—hallmarks of Parkinson’s pathology.
limitations of the study
researchers never tested for groundwater contamination near golf courses, or pollutants in the air
the researchers never properly controlled for other sources of urban air pollution, like road traffic fumes.
Parkinson's also starts in the brain 10 to 15 years before diagnosis, and the study didn't only use subjects who permanently lived in the area (ie. Parkinson's could have started before they moved around a golf course)........
BUT this study is a good reminder that neurological disease prevention (and health in general!) must include addressing environmental toxins!
Clean air, water, and toxin-free living are not luxuries! They are foundational to longevity and to vibrant health now.
