Researchers and experts implicate pesticide exposure—from heavy chemical use on courses—via contamination of water or airborne drift. The study shows a correlation but can't prove that living near a golf course causes Parkinson’s. Other factors—like genetics, head injuries, or other environmental exposures—were not fully accounted for. Only the three years prior to diagnosis were included in the exposure analysis—though Parkinson’s typically develops over decades. Conducted in a specific region; results may not generalize broadly. Golf course pesticide use and water geology differ elsewhere. The study assumed exposure based on proximity and water system overlap, but did not test tap water or soil directly for pesticide levels. A disproportionate number of cases were urban, raising questions about air pollution or other urban-area triggers. Experts describe the findings as “striking” and “biologically plausible” due to known pesticide neurotoxicity. But they emphasize that more research is needed—ideally with broader geographic coverage, longer time frames, and actual pesticide measurements.
Residential Proximity to Golf Courses Linked to Parkinson’s Disease