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SCEGLI ORA A new study has revealed that people living near a golf course have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The research, conducted by Dr. Brittany Krzyzanowski of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, was published in JAMA Network Open. The research team, reports MEDToday, analyzed the risk associated with the distance from golf courses and water quality, discovering that living less than 1.6 km from a golf course doubles the risk of Parkinson’s compared to those residing more than 10 km away. The risk is also higher for those using drinking water from areas with golf courses or private wells. The risk of Parkinson’s further increases in areas with vulnerable aquifers, such as those with sandy soils or shallow rocks, which allow pesticides to infiltrate more easily into the water. Dr. Krzyzanowski emphasized that karst geology, made of easily dissolvable limestones, facilitates this penetration: ‘Karst topography describes a region with a limestone bedrock that slowly dissolves over time, creating underground voids that allow surface water to flow more quickly. This means that pesticides applied to grass or crops can more easily penetrate aquifers after a rain.’ The findings suggest that those living near golf courses should be aware of the possible risks and take measures to minimize exposure. ‘Contact the golf course and ask on which days and times they spray,’ Krzyzanowski suggested. ‘During spraying periods, try to stay indoors. You might also consider using a charcoal water filter to reduce the risk of drinking water contamination.’ Parkinson’s disease has been associated with several environmental chemical agents, including industrial solvents and pesticides. Substances such as paraquat and rotenone, previously used on golf courses, are known to damage dopaminergic neurons and cause Parkinson-like neurodegeneration. The study analyzed data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, including 419 cases of Parkinson’s and over 5,100 controls. The distance from 139 golf courses in the area and the characteristics of 224 areas served by drinking water were examined. For every additional mile (1.6 km) of distance from a golf course, the risk of Parkinson’s decreased by 9%. Despite some limitations in the sample and historical information on pesticides, Dr. Krzyzanowski concluded that the work opens new research horizons. The next step will be to replicate the study nationally, involving millions of Medicare beneficiaries and numerous golf courses.
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