Life near this popular sports center can triple the risk of Parkinson’s disease

The apartment next to the golf course may seem like a dream with lush greens, a quiet environment and an atmosphere of a luxurious lifestyle. However, new studies suggest that this idyllic setting can have a hidden cost. Scientists have found that people living near golf fields can face an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and coordination. Typical symptoms include tremor, stiffness, slow movement and balance problems. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.

Latest test Published in the Jama Network Open magazine, people who live two miles from the golf course encounter the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease almost three times. The risk is the highest for the inhabitants of water services, in which the golf courses are in regions susceptible to groundwater pollution.

This increased risk is associated with the high use of pesticides on golf courses, which are used in the USA at rates up to 15 times higher than in many European countries. These chemicals can penetrate into the soil and pollute groundwater, increasing serious concerns about the safety of local drinking water.

In the study, scientists analyzed medical documentation from the project of Epidemiology Rochester, covering 27 poviats in Minnesota and Wisconsin in 1991–2015. They examined the relationship between life near golf fields and the risk of Parkinson’s disease, focusing on areas surrounding 139 golf courses.

“We noticed that the risk of developing PD was the greatest for people living 1 to 3 miles from the golf course and that the risk of PD generally decreased with the increase in the distance from the turtleneck.

Scientists have found that although the risk of Parkinson’s disease remained stable for people living three miles from the golf course, it decreased by 13% for each mile beyond that. Pesticides, including phosphate phosphate, chloropyrphos, methylchlorophenoxpropionic acid (MCPP), 2.4-dichlorophenoxicic acid (2.4-D), maneb and organor, which is known to be associated with Parkinson’s disease, are commonly used in the treatment of golf codes.