A recent study reveals that living near golf courses may significantly elevate the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, primarily due to pesticide exposure.

Conducted by researchers from The Mayo Clinic, University of Kansas Medical Center, and University of Rochester Medical Center, the study analyzed health data from over 5,500 individuals in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski, a key researcher, noted that pesticides used on golf courses could contaminate groundwater and become airborne, contributing to the increased risk.

The analysis included 418 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's, revealing a strong correlation for those living within three miles of a golf course, especially in areas sharing groundwater.

The study utilized advanced statistical models to adjust for variables such as age, sex, race, and income, focusing on 419 Parkinson's patients compared to over 5,100 matched controls.

Participants living near 139 golf courses showed an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, with the risk escalating significantly the closer one lived to these courses.

Specifically, the research found that for every mile increase in distance from a golf course, the odds of developing Parkinson's decreased by 9%.

The study highlighted that vulnerable groundwater regions, characterized by porous soil and geology, exhibited an 82% increased risk for Parkinson's when tap water was sourced from golf course-adjacent service areas.

Areas with shallow bedrock or coarse soil were particularly susceptible to pesticide contamination in aquifers, raising concerns about drinking water safety.

Experts caution that while the findings are significant, other factors such as air pollution and the lack of direct pesticide level analysis in drinking water must also be considered.

The authors advocate for stricter public health policies regarding pesticide usage in regions where residents rely on groundwater for their water supply.

Future research aims to replicate these findings with a larger dataset of Medicare beneficiaries and a broader range of golf courses to further investigate these risks.