If so, here's something you ought to know. In a letter recently published in The Annals of Neurology, neurologists Margaret Parrish and Robert Gardner suggest a link between Parkinson's disease and golf. They were studying a group of 26 patients with Parkinson's when they noticed that 19 of them lived on or within two miles of a golf course.
Does the incidence of Parkinson's disease vary by age and gender?
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. Epidemiological studies on the incidence of PD are important to better understand the risk factors for PD and determine the condition's natural history. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examine the incidence of PD and its variation by age and gender.
Is there a link between golf and Parkinson's disease?
In a letter published in the journal Annals of Neurology, neurologists Margaret Parrish and Robert Gardner suggest a link between Parkinson's disease and golf. Of 26 patients with Parkinson's disorder that they collected for their small study of the disease, it turned out that 19 of them lived on or within two miles of a golf course.
Who has Parkinson’s?
Who Has Parkinson's? 1 Nearly one million people in the U.S. ... 2 Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year. 3 More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD. 4 Incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50. More items...
Is Parkinson’s disease a neurodegenerative disease?
Introduction Neurological disorders produce a considerable epidemiological burden associated with high rates of disability. Parkinson’s disease (PD) has the second highest prevalence among neurodegenerative diseases.
Is it unhealthy to live near a golf course?
"Anyone on the golf course or nearby is at risk. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water. These people may live far from the place where pesticides were used."
Who is more prone to Parkinson disease?
The main risk factor is age, because Parkinson's disease is most commonly found in adults over the age of 50 (although diagnoses can occur in much younger people). Men also have a higher risk of Parkinson's disease than women.
Does Environment Affect Parkinson's disease?
Some scientists suggest that there's a link between exposure to certain environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals and other substances, and an elevated risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Is golf good for Parkinsons?
Playing golf improves mobility and balance in Parkinson's disease (PD) better than tai chi, the gold standard exercise for improved balance and falls prevention in this patient population, early research suggests.
What is the root cause of Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
What can trigger Parkinson disease?
Medical experts believe that environmental causes may help trigger Parkinson's disease. Exposure to farming chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides; Vietnam-era exposure to Agent Orange; and working with heavy metals, detergents and solvents have all been implicated and studied for a clearer link.
Why is Parkinson's increasing?
The Parkinson pandemic is fueled by aging populations, increasing longevity, declining smoking rates, and the by-products of industrialization. The incidence of Parkinson disease increases with age and rises sharply at around age 65 [16].
What are the four cardinal signs of Parkinson's disease?
One of the most prevalent neurological disorders is Parkinson's disease (PD), characterized by four cardinal signs: tremor, bradykinesia, rigor and postural instability.
Can you prevent Parkinson's?
Prevention. It is not possible to prevent Parkinson's disease, but some lifelong habits may help reduce the risk.
Increased stress can lead to more tough days
Currently, in California, we are under increasing stress as our governor places more restrictions on us almost daily. In addition, the continuing political unrest in the US seems to be spiraling out of control in some cities.
Trying to play golf with Parkinson's
Before I go on, I want to make it clear that I have been a life long tennis player and rarely played golf more than 3-4 times a year, much to Mr. Twitchy’s dismay. Golf was frustrating for me. As one golf instructor told me, I was swinging the golf club like a tennis racket. That doesn’t work in golf.
The Parkinson's Gremlins
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How to remove toxins from your body?
Consider cleansing your system periodically. The right herbs and supplements will go a long way to removing accumulated toxins from your body. EDTA chelation. EDTA chelation is a safe and readily available method for detoxifying your body since you can get it in supplement form, now.
What pesticides are used to maintain golf courses?
It doesn’t get that way on its own. Benomyl, rotenone, paraquat and other toxic weed and insect killers are used routinely to maintain golf courses. Most courses have a certified pesticide applicator on staff to handle these chemicals.
What is the name of the drug that inhibits the function of mitochondria in our cells?
Rotenone. Rotenone inhibits the function of energy-producing mitochondria in our cells. Sold under names such as Chem-Fish, Cuberol and Rotacide, it is used in home gardens to control insects, as well as for lice and tick control on pets. Rotenone is lipophilic, meaning it collects in fat.
How much more likely is Parkinson's disease to be caused by paraquat?
Professor Ryan already knew that people exposed to the chemicals paraquat and maneb were 250 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s than the general population.
How to protect yourself from pesticides?
Other ways to protect yourself from pesticides: 1 Buy organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Knowing where your produce came from will help you know what it’s been exposed to. 2 Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Use a diluted solution of water and dish soap and a scrub brush. Click here are more tips on washing produce. 3 Know which fruits and vegetables are more likely to be contaminated. Refer to EWG’s Dirty Dozen 4 Have a ‘no-shoes’ policy in your home to minimize the amount of toxins brought in on shoes that have walked through treated grass. 5 Throw away the outer layers of leafy vegetables. This may seem wasteful, but you’re getting rid of a lot of pesticide exposure by doing this. 6 Consider cleansing your system periodically. The right herbs and supplements will go a long way to removing accumulated toxins from your body.
How many times does a golf course use pesticides?
Golf courses use four to seven times the amount of pesticides per acre that agricultural growers use. Golfers are exposed to these toxins mainly through direct skin contact with turf, usually on the ankles, legs, hands and arms.
What is the chemical used to protect crops from fungus?
Therefore, it’s best to just avoid them. Benomyl. Known commercially as Agrocit or Fundazol , this chemical is used to protect many crops from fungus, including fruits, mushrooms, ornamental shrubs and grass.
How to help Parkinson's patients?
Many different types of exercise have been shown to help those of us with Parkinson’s. The key for you is to find the type (s) of exercise (s) you enjoy and are willing to do on a frequent basis. Anyone with Parkinson’s should be encouraged to participate in routine exercise that allows one to establish and/or maintain physical fitness ...
What are the benefits of exercise?
Benefits of Exercise: One of the healthiest things you can do is exercise (physical activity), and every day if possible! The Mayo Clinic gives 7 benefits of regular physical activity ( http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389 ): #1, exercise controls weight; #2, exercise combats health conditions ...
What is the most fascinating thing about golf?
“One of the most fascinating things about golf is how it reflects the cycle of life. No matter what you shoot – the next day you have to go back to the first tee and begin all over again and make yourself into something.” Peter Jacobsen
Can you push a golf cart?
You can substantially boost the level of exercise if you are physically able to push a golf cart or carry your golf bag and walk. You frequently play golf with others; however, you mostly are competing against your most recent good/bad-scoring round of golf. Finally, there is usually a fun and supportive social aspect to golf.
Is golf a microcosm of life?
Golf really is the best microcosm of life – or at least the way life should be.”. Lou Holtz. Golf and Parkinson’s: Many people think of golf as a passive sport that doesn’t offer much in terms of physical fitness. Golf actually provides cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility, balance and coordination.
Is golf hard to master?
If you’ve read the quotes here, you realize that golf is both an honorable game and incredibly hard to master (I’m still learning how to play). Golf is sometimes incredibly frustrating; yet it still very relaxing and always fun. You use every muscle/joint/ligament/tendon in your body to hit the golf ball.
Is golf a science?
With the backdrop of having Parkinson’s, exercise (physical activity) is essential for living-forward and for maintaining a grip on the miniscule progression of this disorder. “Golf is a science, the study of a lifetime, in which you can exhaust yourself but never your subject.”. David Forgan.
What is the most popular sport for people over 55?
A Popular Sport. Golf is the most popular sport for people over age 55, Wills said, and previous research indicates it improves balance and quality of life in patients with stroke. Golf and tai chi focus mainly on anticipatory balance and spine rotation, both of which are affected in Parkinson’s. However, unlike tai chi, golf also involves ...
Does golf help Parkinson's?
Danielle Larson, MD, a movement disorders specialist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, said golf could improve symptoms because it's already a hobby for many people in the age range of patients with Parkinson's. Unlike tai chi, golf involves walking, which provides additional benefit, Larson, who was not involved in the study, said..
Is Tai Chi good for Parkinson's?
Tai chi has been shown to benefit balance and quality of life in patients who have suffered a stroke and is considered the gold standard exercise to improve mobility and preventing falls in Parkinson’s. The study included 20 patients with moderate Parkinson’s, defined as stage 2 to 3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale for the disease’s progression.
How many people are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year?
Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year. More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD. Incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50.
What is prevalence in Parkinson's?
Prevalence: A measurement of all individuals affected by the disease at a particular time (for example, the number of people with Parkinson’s on March 19, 2018). To calculate an accurate estimate of the prevalence of Parkinson’s throughout North America, the Parkinson’s Foundation formed the Parkinson’s Prevalence Project in 2014.
What is the Parkinson's prevalence map?
The Parkinson’s Prevalence Map is a graphical representation of the results of the P4 paper applied to the population structure of individual states (those individuals 45 years old and older) using 2016 state level US Census data. The result is that states with large populations and/or large numbers of elderly will have higher estimated numbers of people with PD. This represents an improved estimate over previous attempts but is by no means definitive. The authors of the Parkinson’s Foundation Parkinson’s Prevalence Project paper note that their results likely represent the minimum number of people with PD in the U.S. – the number may actually be much higher. Therefore, the Parkinson’s Foundation is working to help support federal efforts to create a comprehensive national measure of those with PD.
How many people will have Parkinson's disease in 2020?
The Parkinson’s Foundation Prevalence Project estimates that 930,000 people in the United States will be living with PD by the year 2020. This number is predicted to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.
How much does Parkinson's cost?
The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s, including treatment, social security payments and lost income, is estimated to be nearly $52 billion per year in the United States alone.
Do men have Parkinson's?
The new study confirms that men are more likely to have Parkinson’s than women and that the number of those diagnosed with PD increases with age, regardless of sex. The new study found that the prevalence of people diagnosed with PD varies by region. Study researchers will now devote more time to find out how.
Is Parkinson's Prevalence Project a national measure?
The authors of the Parkinson’s Foundation Parkinson’s Prevalence Project paper note that their results likely represent the minimum number of people with PD in the U.S. – the number may actually be much higher. Therefore, the Parkinson’s Foundation is working to help support federal efforts to create a comprehensive national measure ...