A new U.S. study has found that people living close to golf courses face a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), a serious brain disorder.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that pesticide use on golf courses may be a key factor.
Researchers analyzed health records from Olmsted County, Minnesota, comparing 419 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s to over 5,000 similar individuals without the disease.
They found that living within one mile of a golf course more than doubled the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to living more than six miles away. The risk remained elevated for those living up to three miles away but decreased beyond that distance.
The study also looked at water sources and found that people receiving tap water from areas with golf courses had nearly twice the risk of Parkinson’s compared to those in areas without golf courses.
This risk was even higher in regions where the groundwater is vulnerable to contamination, suggesting pesticides might be seeping into drinking water.
Pesticides like paraquat and maneb, often used on golf courses, have been linked in earlier studies to Parkinson’s disease. These chemicals can harm brain cells by causing oxidative stress and damaging neurons important for movement control.
The researchers believe that exposure to pesticides can happen both through breathing contaminated air near golf courses and by drinking polluted water. The risk was stronger in urban areas, where pesticide drift may be more concentrated.
Experts caution that this study shows a strong association but does not prove that living near golf courses causes Parkinson’s. Still, it adds to growing evidence that pesticide exposure is a major environmental risk factor for the disease.
Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist involved in the study, said, “This isn’t just a risk for farmers anymore. People living near golf courses in suburban areas are also affected, often without realizing it.”
The findings highlight the need for more research and for people living near golf courses to be aware of potential risks. Reducing pesticide use and protecting water sources could help lower Parkinson’s disease risks in these communities.
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