While the well-kept greens of a golf course might have been the selling point for purchasing a house nearby, a recent study has many people questioning if their proximity to a golf course is safe for their brain health. A study published earlier this year in the JAMA Network Open journal, found that individuals living within three miles of golf courses were at a greater risk for Parkinson’s disease. Here, Isaac Goldszer, M.D., a neurologist at Henry Ford Health, clarifies the results of this study and why there is a connection between Parkinson’s disease and golf courses.
Why Golf Courses Pose A Risk To Your Neurologic Health
Golf courses pride themselves on keeping their fairways watered and resilient all season long – regardless of fluctuating temperatures or rainfall. They achieve this aesthetic with the help of pesticides. While these chemicals have long been flagged as environmental toxins, evidence also shows continued exposure can have a neurotoxic effect associated with Parkinson’s disease.
“Pesticides are toxic to the dopamine neurons in the brain,” says Dr. Goldszer. “These neurons play an important role in movement and coordination, and their death results in the syndrome Parkinson’s disease.”
In this newer study, researchers found that an additional increased risk of golf course-related pesticide exposure comes from contaminated groundwater. Runoff from golf courses can get into your drinking water – especially if you live in the same water service area as a golf course or if you live in “vulnerable ground water region,” an area with shallow well water or water that is more susceptible to contamination. This could cause you to ingest traces of the pesticides used to treat these courses, which over time, may increase your risk for Parkinson’s disease.
“We don’t share this information to scare people,” says Dr. Goldszer. “But it's important that families understand the impact pesticides have on our environment and what that could mean for your health in the long run.”
Parkinson's Disease Treatment At Henry Ford
Taking Steps To Reduce Your Parkinson’s Risk
This new study found that people living further than three miles from a golf course or those who used alternative sources for their drinking water did not have the same increased risk for Parkinson’s related to pesticide runoff. That said, if you find yourself living near a golf course, you don’t need to move away. Instead, be aware of your potential Parkinson’s disease risk and take steps to stay healthy.
For starters, consider looking into the source of your drinking water. If your water is well water or if you find you live in a “vulnerable ground water area,” you might want to start filtering or purchasing your drinking water.
From there, Dr. Goldszer recommends prioritizing a healthy lifestyle as your best bet for reducing your risk for Parkinson’s. Eating whole, unprocessed foods and getting regular exercise can help support cognition and prevent the incidence of chronic disease like Parkinson’s disease.
Reviewed by Dr. Isaac Goldszer, a neurologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hospital, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital Clinics and Henry Ford Medical Center - Bloomfield Twp.
