Best medical response to the JAMA article:

May 18, 2025
Limitations
Marcus Shaker, MD, MS | Dartmouth Health
Thank you for this thought-provoking analysis. As the authors highlight, environmental toxins likely have an underrecognized impact on human health. Still, before calling your realtor, it is worth highlighting several limitations of this study.

First, the authors present data on relative risk, so it is important to remember that the absolute risk of Parkinson disease (PD) is low, and even considering the elevated adjusted odds ratios, most individuals living near golf courses will not develop PD.

Second, as the authors note, there is not a dose response seen for those within a 3-mile radius of the golf course. Together with the lack of statistical significance provided in Table 1, this raises concerns for confounding. It appears that the risk of urban residence and White race are higher in cases than distance from a golf course. From Table 1, cases live a median 1.72 miles from a golf course and controls live 1.98 miles away. Is a median difference of 0.26 miles likely to have a plausible impact when there is no dose-response gradient within 3 miles? Are pesticides used on golf courses within 3 miles of a residence more likely to impact PD risk than those used on individuals' own lawns, or those used inside their own homes? And what of the health benefits of green spaces?

Overall, this study reminds us to be aware of unrecognized harms, but further research is needed before planning your next move because of proximity to a golf course.

Add to that it was a retrospective study of only 419 patients and a control group of 20 and what you have is basically a useless study with no valid conclusions. Don't move to the middle of the desert just yet.

Parkinsons
 

You have to also remember that The Villages has a very large number of veterans. How many of those were in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange. Parkinson's is a presumed disease related to A. O. However many Villagers were exposed to pesticides through their occupation - i.e. farmers, landscapers, etc. Not to worry.

move here, but don't buy on a golf course.

Or one near a retention pond, one with grass growing around it, one with a pool.🤦*♂️

Best response here

And how “old” is this “long time manager”? Seems Parkinson’s is more prevalent in older adults and aren’t we that population here in The Vil?

Interesting study. Thanks for sharing that. Does our water come from a deeper aquifer? I think it does for at least most of The Villages.

If Parkinson’s can be caused by pesticides on golf courses, I would urge all golfers to stop licking the soles of their shoes clean after playing.

There probably is a correlation, I know of many farmers who have suffered from Parkinson's disease and they handled many of those types of sprays, weed and pesticide control. But what's the diff..., we all have to die of something and it's hard to beat a golf course view.

Lived here over 10 years in 3 different neighborhoods and I don't know anyone with Parkinson

Golf Course living well
 

Ive lived on a golf course my whole life, now 71! I've played golf on golf course since I was10. I currently live off of #1 Green at Southern Oaks. I , my wife and children are all healthy, and no Parkinson's. Maybe that information can calm your fears. But probably not! Do you know that more people die in cold months than in hot months...maybe you should come on to Florida regardless of Parkinson's! Good luck...
I

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me.

Yes, do not ask a civil question here because it's not the place for a civil answer!

Oh stop it …..live your life and stop worrying about everything you read , much of what is false or unproven……

The research should be on US greens keepers. See if there is an above average incident of Parkinson's in that group.
As GE pointed out, the test group was so small as to be irrelevant in the report.