Living near a golf course ‘doubles risk of Parkinson's'
Living within one mile of a golf course doubles the risk of developing Parkinson's, a new study suggests.
US researchers believe pesticides used to keep greens and fairways in immaculate condition could be triggering the condition by leaching into water supplies, or becoming airborne.
In new research, a team from the Barrow Neurological Institute, Arizona, analysed health data from people living near 139 golf courses in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
They discovered that living within one mile of a golf course was associated with a 126 per cent higher risk of developing Parkinson's compared with individuals living more than six miles away.
The study also found a linear relationship between the chance of developing Parkinson's and distance from the greens, with each mile away reducing the chances of diagnosis by 13 per cent.
Writing in the journal Jama Network Open, Dr Brittany Krzyzanowski said: 'These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of Parkinson's disease for nearby residents.
'Public health policies to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination and airborne exposure from pesticides on golf courses may help reduce risk of Parkinson's disease in nearby neighbourhoods.'
The overall chance of developing Parkinson's is small, with around 0.005 per cent of people in their 30s diagnosed, rising to about 1.7 per cent of people in their 80s.
Previous studies have suggested that exposure to pesticides such as organophosphates raise the risk of the condition, and in 2011 the US National Institutes of Health warned that rotenone and paraquat in particular multiply the risk of Parkinson's by 2.5.
That study found the pesticides can inhibit the function of the mitochondria, the structure responsible for making energy in the cell, as well as causing oxidative stress that can harm cellular structures.
Seven pesticides in groundwater
There is also evidence that pesticides from golf courses can pollute groundwater. A study of water courses surrounding four different golf courses in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, discovered they were contaminated with seven different pesticides including those linked to Parkinson's.
But although there has been anecdotal evidence that living near golf courses may increase the chance of Parkinson's and cancer, there have been no major studies up to now.
The latest research looked at nearly 4,500 people who lived in the vicinity of golf courses, including 418 Parkinson's patients.
It found a clear link for those living within three miles of a golf course, with the risk decreasing as people moved further away. The effects were strongest in residential areas that shared their groundwater with a golf course.
Britain has traditionally used fewer pesticides on golf courses than the US, and recently banned the most harmful chemicals.
Experts at the charity Parkinson's UK also pointed out the disease starts in the brain 10 to 15 years before diagnosis, so the seeds may have been planted long before people moved near a golf course.
Dr Katherine Fletcher, the research lead at Parkinson's UK, said: 'Parkinson's is complex. The causes of the condition are unclear and are likely to involve both genetic and environmental factors.
'Many studies have investigated whether pesticides increase the risk of developing Parkinson's in different populations around the world. The results have been varied, but overall suggest that exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of the condition.
However, the evidence is not strong enough to show that pesticide exposure directly causes Parkinson's. In Europe and the UK, the use of pesticides is strictly controlled, and some – like paraquat – are banned, due to concerns about their wider health and environmental impacts.
'So, the risk of exposure to these for most people is extremely low.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The key to being happier, smarter and ageing better, by leading neuroscientist DR JOSEPH JEBELLI. An extraordinary scientfic breakthrough shows what part of modern life is destroying our brains - now his new book has the cure
You're sitting at your desk, trying to look busy, and your work isn't going well. OK, it's time to double down and try a bit harder... but for some reason your brain fails to ignite. It's just one of those things we all experience at work – and until recently, no one really understood how to kick-start the brain back into action.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Quintessential summer drink shockingly linked to aggressive skin cancer
Summer's here, which means millions will be enjoying a glass of wine on a warm evening. But scientists warn that the type of wine you drink could be raising your risk of skin cancer. A new study found that drinking white wine was associated with a 22 percent higher risk of melanomas and other forms of skin cancers compared to drinking red wine. One of the theories is that white wine is often consumed in the sun, which itself is a risk factor for skin cancer. Red wine also contains chemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties which some studies suggest could have a protective effect on cells. Eunyoung Cho, co-lead author of the study and associate professor of epidemiology and of dermatology at Brown University, said: 'We did observe a distinction when it came to skin cancer risk. 'Specifically, the consumption of white wine, but not red wine, was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.' The American Cancer Society notes all alcohol consumption can lead to cancer and recommends limiting to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. The group of researchers analyzed 42 studies with nearly 96,000 participants to compare the cancer risk caused by both red and white wine. Among the participants, the scientists identified those who drank the most and least white and red wine, respectively, and how much they consumed. Since the analysis pooled data from multiple research papers from across the world, each with its own definitions of consumption levels, it remains unclear how many glasses of wine each participant was drinking. While 'high' consumption usually means around one glass per day, this can vary from country to country. However, the data that was collected by the Brown University researchers was then measured using multiple statistical models to find a link between drinking wine and the probability of developing cancer. Results showed that women who drank white wine were at a greater risk of developing any kind cancer in their body as compared to men who drank white wine. The researchers did not find any link between red wine and skin cancer. It also remains unclear how many glasses of white wine can raise the risk of skin cancer. has reached to Dr Cho for more information. While Dr Cho and her team did not identify a clear reason on how white wine can increase the risk of cancer, they theorized that it was possible that women do not take protective measures against skin cancer when under the influence of alcohol. Skin cancer is usually caused due to a toxic growth of skin cells and can quickly spread across the skin. Normally, as skin cells grow old and die, new cells form to replace them. When this process stops to work as it should due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, cells grow more quickly and become toxic. The most common form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma - both of which can often be cured. Basal cell carcinoma is defined as the cancer that forms in your basal cells in the lower part of the outside layer of the skin while squamous cell carcinoma forms in the squamous cells in the outside layer of the skin. The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma. It is more likely to spread, making it harder to cure. This type of skin cancer forms in cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, a brown pigment that gives your skin its color and protects against some of the sun's damaging UV rays. However, without proper protection such as using sunscreen, UV rays can damage melanocytes and pave the way for the development of melanoma. Previous studies have shown a statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of melanoma. According to Harvard Health, one study found that the risk of basal cell carcinoma increased by seven percent and squamous cell carcinoma increased by 11 percent for every 10-gram increase in intake of alcohol in distilled spirit form (or one standard beer or small glass of wine) each day. Another study also found a 20 percent increase in melanoma in drinkers (compared to those who don't drink alcohol or only drink occasionally) Additionally, it also found that those who drink 50-grams of alcohol (or five beers) per day had a 55 percent increase in risk for melanoma. Numerous researchers believe that drinking alcohol while basking in the sunlight can increase a person's risk of developing cancer. As you drink, the body begins to process and metabolize alcohol which leads to the formation of Acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a known carcinogen - cancer causing substance - that is known to damage cell DNA and can increase a person's chances of having cancer. Coupled with the sun's UV rays that continue to damage the skin, the likelihood to develop the deadly illness increase. The American Cancer Society recommends limiting alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. But experts say that it is important to consider your underlying risk for developing skin cancer based on sun exposure and ethnicity and then alter your lifestyle.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
This common nut can lower your risk of heart disease, dementia and diabetes
A handful of almonds each day could significantly reduce a condition that has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and dementia, according to a new study in the journal Nutrition Research. Around one in three Americans are affected by metabolic syndrome, and evidence shows they are 'three times as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke and twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease compared to people without this condition,' lead study author Emily Ho, director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, said in a statement released in the report. 'Poor diet and inactivity contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, and gut health and chronic inflammation may also play roles,' she added. But swapping processed snacks for a handful of almonds – about 45 nuts – in your daily diet could help curb some of the most serious chronic health risks facing Americans today. In a 12-week clinical trial, researchers studied adults aged 35 to 60 who had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. One group consumed 320 calories of almonds daily while the other group ate the same number of calories from crackers. Those who ate almonds experienced significant health improvements, including reductions in total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and waist circumference. Blood tests also showed increased levels of vitamin E, an antioxidant known to reduce inflammation and support heart, nerve, and muscle function. Participants in the almond group also saw lower levels of gut inflammation — a promising sign, as maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as vital to long-term health. 'In addition to vitamin E, almonds have polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, fiber, polyphenols, biotin, copper, potassium and magnesium,' said study co-author Laura Beaver, a research associate in the Oregon State College of Health. 'The changes in cholesterol levels we observed suggest a meaningful metabolic shift in those who consumed almonds daily.' The findings align with previous research highlighting the health benefits of almonds.
