Living near a golf course is linked to Parkinsons risk in new study as some cite limitations

If living near a golf course seems scenic and relaxing, it may also be linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a surprising new study that comes with some limitations.Led by the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, along with Mayo Clinic, the study found that the greatest risk was found among those who live within one to three miles of a golf course.“The strongest effects were in municipal water service areas with a golf course and in regions with vulnerable groundwater based on the bedrock and topography,” lead study author Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Barrow Neurological Institute, told Fox News Digital.“These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of PD [Parkinson’s disease] for nearby residents,” the researchers concluded in the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open.The case-control study analyzed data from 419 Parkinson’s patients averaging 73 years of age and living near 139 golf courses in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.They then made comparisons to control data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project from 1991 to 2015.“We had accurate data on golf course locations, and we could accurately determine the source of an individual’s drinking water – whether that be municipal water or private well water,” Krzyzanowski noted.Living within one mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing the neurological disease compared to living more than six miles away, the study found.People living near water service areas with a golf course had nearly twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared with individuals in water service areas without golf courses.Those living in water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions had an 82% higher risk, according to the findings.(Vulnerable groundwater is more susceptible to contamination from human activities and environmenta...