Golf courses are often seen as the perfect backdrop for a quiet, healthy life. But what if that scenic view came with an unexpected risk?

A new study is raising eyebrows—and serious questions—about a hidden health concern tied to where you live. And the numbers are hard to ignore.

Parkinson’s in America: A Growing Health Crisis

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s, and its grip on the U.S. population is tightening. Today, an estimated 1.1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s, and that number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Each year, nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed in the country — a figure that’s 50% higher than previously believed, highlighting an urgent and growing public health challenge.

Though Parkinson’s is most commonly diagnosed in people over 65, it doesn’t only affect the elderly. Around 4% of those living with the disease are under 50. Men are 1.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than women, and certain regions, such as the industrialized “Rust Belt,” parts of Southern California, and Central Pennsylvania, report higher incidence rates. This regional variation has prompted further investigation into environmental risk factors that might contribute to the disease’s development.

As scientists work to untangle the many threads of this complex condition, one thing is increasingly clear: Parkinson’s isn’t just a disease of aging — it’s a disease shaped by where we live, how we live, and the world we’re exposed to.

Could the Green Be a Red Flag? What the Study Found

A provocative new study is shaking up the conversation about environmental risk factors for Parkinson’s disease by pointing a finger at an unlikely suspect: golf courses.

Researchers analyzed data from 419 individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Minnesota and Wisconsin, comparing them to over 5,000 matched individuals without the disease. The results were striking: people living within just one mile of a golf course had a 126% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those who lived more than six miles away. The risk persisted, though lessened, for those within a three-mile radius.

But the risk wasn’t just about proximity. People who shared groundwater-sourced water services with golf courses also showed significantly higher odds of developing Parkinson’s. The potential culprit? Pesticides. Golf courses often use large quantities of chemical treatments to maintain pristine greens. And in hot, humid climates, that use can be extensive.

In areas with karst topography — a type of limestone-rich landscape that allows water (and anything in it) to move quickly into the groundwater — the risk was even greater. This geological feature could allow pesticide runoff to seep into the drinking water supply more easily.

Although the study didn’t directly test pesticide levels in air or water, it adds weight to growing concerns about how long-term environmental exposures may silently influence our neurological health. While not conclusive, the research urges a closer look at how seemingly benign suburban features, like a neighborhood golf course, might carry unseen consequences.

Should You Pack Up and Move?

If your home backs onto a golf course, you don’t need to move just yet. But it may be time to make some smarter choices. While the recent study doesn’t prove causation, it does raise important questions about chronic exposure to pesticides in residential areas, especially through air and groundwater.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to reduce potential risks:

• Filter Your Drinking Water: Use a carbon water filter or a reverse osmosis system. Both have been shown to remove pesticides with high efficiency, offering an extra layer of protection.
  
• Be Mindful of Spray Schedules: If possible, ask the golf course when they spray pesticides and stay indoors during those times, especially with windows closed and air purifiers on.
  
• Bring Your Own Water While Golfing: If you’re an avid golfer, bring your own filtered water to avoid drinking from taps or fountains on the course.
  
• Know What’s in Your Water: Use online tools like the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database to look up potential contaminants by ZIP code and understand the water quality in your area.
  
• Support Organic and Certified Courses: Some golf courses, such as Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, have adopted organic or environmentally responsible practices. Look for those certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf.

For now, the best defense is awareness. If you’re concerned, these precautions can help you take back a measure of control without giving up your favorite view of the green.

My Personal RX on Creating a Safe, Healthy Home in a Toxic World

The truth is, you can’t escape toxins entirely. Not even in the cleanest neighborhood or the most remote corner of the world. From household cleaners and personal care products to food packaging and polluted air, toxins find their way into our homes and bodies more than we realize. But your home can still be a place of refuge. With conscious choices and simple shifts, you can build a health haven that supports your family’s well-being—starting from the inside out.

1. Learn to Spot Hidden Toxins: The Toxic Ingredient Guide helps you identify the most common harmful chemicals lurking in cleaning products, cosmetics, plastics, and even kids’ items. Use it to make informed swaps that protect your family from long-term exposure to hormone disruptors and irritants.
   
2. Strengthen Your Gut’s Natural Defenses: Environmental toxins can disrupt your microbiome, weaken immune function, and contribute to inflammation. MindBiotic helps support a resilient gut lining and microbial balance, which are key to detoxification and internal protection, especially in today’s toxic landscape.
   
3. Cook Clean, Nourishing Meals at Home: The Mindful Meals cookbook offers recipes designed to reduce your toxic load by using whole, organic, and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Every meal you prepare is a chance to fuel your body with healing nutrients and avoid processed foods that often come with hidden additives.
   
4. Switch to Safer Cleaning Products: Ditch harsh, chemical-laden cleaners for non-toxic alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. These options are just as effective—and much gentler on your body and indoor air quality.
   
5. Filter Your Water and Air: Install a high-quality water filter and use air purifiers to reduce exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, and airborne pollutants. Clean air and water are foundational to a truly healthy home.
   
6. Say No to Artificial Fragrances: Candles, air fresheners, and scented detergents often contain phthalates and other hormone-disrupting chemicals. Choose unscented or naturally scented options made with essential oils.
   
7. Use Glass and Stainless Steel Instead of Plastic: Plastics can leach chemicals into your food, especially when heated. Store leftovers and pack lunches in safer alternatives like glass containers or stainless steel.
   
8. Go Barefoot Indoors: Pesticides and pollutants often hitch a ride into your home on the bottoms of your shoes. Leave them at the door to prevent tracking toxins onto your floors—especially important if you have young kids crawling around.
   
9. Ventilate Daily: Open your windows, even for just a few minutes a day. Fresh air helps flush out indoor pollutants and improve overall air quality inside your home.
   
10. Teach and Model Clean Living: Let your kids see you reading labels, cooking real food, and asking questions about what goes into your body. These habits become life lessons they’ll carry forward in their own lives.

Sources:

1. Krzyzanowski, B., Mullan, A. F., Dorsey, E. R., Chirag, S. S., Turcano, P., Camerucci, E., Bower, J. H., & Savica, R. (2025). Proximity to golf courses and risk of Parkinson disease. JAMA Network Open, 8(5), e259198. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9198 
2. Statistics. (n.d.). Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/statistics 
3. Gilbert, R., MD PhD. (2024, September 26). How many people in the US have Parkinson’s disease? American Parkinson Disease Association. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/parkinsons-disease-registries/