JAMA Netw Open

Living near a golf course linked to higher Parkinson's disease risk

May 12, 2025

Study details: This population-based case-control study, conducted using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project (1991-2015), investigated whether proximity to golf courses is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). The study included 419 incident PD cases and 5,113 matched controls. Researchers analyzed the impact of living near golf courses, in water service areas with golf courses, and in regions with vulnerable groundwater.

Results: Living within 1 mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing PD compared with living >6 miles away (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-4.70). Additionally, residing in water service areas with a golf course nearly doubled the odds of PD (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.20-3.23). Living in vulnerable groundwater regions with a golf course also increased PD risk by 82% (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.09-3.03).

Clinical impact: Proximity to golf courses, potentially due to pesticide exposure, may significantly increase the risk of developing PD. This highlights the need for further research into environmental risk factors and potential public health interventions to mitigate exposure in vulnerable populations.

Source:

Krzyzanowski B, et al. (2025, May 1). JAMA Netw Open. Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338549/