Episode Details

Are you ready to uncover the hidden connections to Parkinson's disease lurking in plain sight? Tune into "Fairway & Fork: Unexpected Parkinson's Risks" to explore surprising factors that recent research suggests may play a role in this complex neurological condition.
We often think of Parkinson's through known risks, but what about the less obvious influences? This episode delves into two intriguing areas highlighted by population-based studies:

• Your Plate: Could the food you eat long-term be linked to early signs of Parkinson's? We discuss findings showing a positive association between long-term consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) and nonmotor prodromal features of PD. These are symptoms appearing years before diagnosis. Higher UPF intake was associated with increased odds of features like probable REM sleep behavior disorder, constipation, body pain, and depressive symptoms, and having multiple features. This suggests your "fork" might be worth considering for brain health.
• Your Proximity: What about where you live? We explore research indicating that living close to a golf course was associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The greatest risk was found within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course, with risk decreasing with distance. This link may be tied to pesticide exposure, potentially through contaminated drinking water or airborne routes. Pesticides like paraquat and rotenone, known PD risks, are used on golf courses. Living in water service areas with a golf course nearly doubled PD odds compared to those without.

Join us for "Fairway & Fork: Unexpected Parkinson's Risks" as we unpack these findings, revealing connections you might never have suspected. Discover how factors like your long-term diet and residential environment could potentially influence your risk, and what the science is telling us about these unexpected pathways.

Sources:

1. https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213562
2. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833716
3. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/the-relationship-between-pesticides-and-parkinsons/

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