Breast cancer survivors may have lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, study finds

Cancer is not typically associated with health benefits, but a new study suggests that it could reduce the risk of dementia for some patients.

A study led by the Seoul National University College of Medicine suggests that breast cancer survivors could have a slightly lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who had not undergone treatment.

In the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open, data from more than 70,000 breast cancer survivors were compared to a cancer-free control group for an average of 7.3 years.

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Overall, the breast cancer survivors — particularly those who were 65 and older — showed an 8% lower risk of dementia within the five years following treatment. 

Those who received radiation showed the most risk reduction, the researchers found.

The study was adjusted for other factors that could have contributed to Alzheimer’s risk, including age, income levels, geographic location, body mass index, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease) and health-related behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity), the study stated.

This outcome conflicts with previous ​​concerns about breast cancer patients experiencing cognitive decline after treatment.

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Chemotherapy has previously been linked to a condition called "chemo brain," where patients experience cognitive decline.

"Chemo brain refers to cognitive dysfunction, including thinking and memory problems, that occur in patients with cancer during and after chemotherapy," the researchers wrote.

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This is different from Alzheimer’s, however — with "chemo brain," the cognitive impairment is described as "subtle" and doesn’t keep the patient from retrieving remote memories.

"Concerns about chemo brain and the long-term adverse effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition are common, but our findings suggest that this treatment does not directly lead to AD," the researchers noted.

In fact, they stated, some studies have shown that certain drugs given to breast cancer patients can help to reduce the formation of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the brain, which is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

Based on the findings, the researchers recommend that breast cancer patients take steps to reduce modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s, such as smoking and diabetes, along with receiving standard cancer treatment.

The study did have some limitations, the team acknowledged.

Information about patients’ breast cancer stage and radiation dose was not available. It is also possible that the number of Alzheimer’s diagnoses was underestimated.

Also, because the study focused on patients with "operable" breast cancer, it may not represent the risk of Alzheimer’s among elderly patients, those with "critical comorbidities" or patients with advanced-stage disease, the researchers noted.

"We could not evaluate the long-term increase in AD risk because our follow-up period was relatively short (maximum, 11 years)," they wrote. 

"Additional studies with long-term observation periods are warranted to examine long-term associations between AD risk and breast cancer survival duration."

Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead in Chicago, pointed out that this topic of research has been explored in previous studies.

"There have been many published reports from observational studies of cancer survivors with decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but also some that found increased risk," Carrillo, who was not involved in this most recent study, told Fox News Digital.

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The expert cautions against drawing "abrupt conclusions" based on this study. 

"Previous research on cancer survival and treatment and Alzheimer’s risk, much of it cited by the authors of this article, has produced mixed — even contradictory — results," Carrollio said. "More research is needed — especially longer studies in more representative study populations."

The most interesting aspect of this study, Carrillo said, is the finding that radiation therapy was associated with 23% Alzheimer’s risk reduction, while other cancer treatments showed no risk reduction.

This could be due to radiation’s capability to lower inflammation levels, the expert suggested.

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"Lowering inflammation in the body and brain can reduce amyloid beta or slow amyloid beta production, delaying the onset of symptomatic Alzheimer’s," she said. "More research is needed to see if this is, in fact, the case."

Approximately 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.

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Just one surgical procedure is more popular than breast augmentation: See the report

Americans continue to invest in their aesthetic health.

A new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows steady growth in cosmetic procedures last year, particularly in body contouring and minimally invasive treatments. 

The report's data, detailed below, reveals where people are spending their money.

Of the nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2024, liposuction and breast augmentation topped the list.

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"Surgical procedures grew by 1% from 2023," ASPS President Dr. Scott Hollenbeck, a general plastic surgeon based in Charlottesville, Virginia, shared in a press release, noting that body contouring procedures saw the highest increase. 

Thigh and buttock lifts were up 3%, while arm and neck lifts rose 2%. 

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Surgeons believe this may reflect the rising use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, like Ozempic and Wegovy, which can lead to sagging skin.

Minimally invasive procedures continue to dominate the aesthetic landscape, with over 28.5 million performed last year. The top five listed below led the pack.

"These treatments remain strong due to their affordability and low downtime," said ASPS member surgeon Dr. Kristy Hamilton, a general plastic surgeon based in Houston, Texas, in the release.

"Despite so-called ‘filler fatigue,’ HA fillers continue to top the list — when done naturally, they’re extremely effective," she added.

For the first time, ASPS tracked the use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, noting that over 837,000 prescriptions were written by ASPS surgeons in 2024. 

Of those patients, 20% had already undergone surgery, 39% were considering surgery and 41% were exploring non-surgical options, the report shared.

WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS’ IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDY

"These medications are helping patients reach a healthy weight before surgery," Dr. Heather Faulkner, a cosmetic plastic surgeon based in Atlanta, Goergia, said in the release. 

"But they’re not substitutes — you must be near your goal weight before considering procedures like tummy tucks or lifts."

A number of factors could contribute to the high demand for cosmetic procedures, according to experts.

"Maybe it’s greater exposure through social media or a general decrease in taboos," said Hollenbeck. "Either way, patients are prioritizing their aesthetic health."

Surgeons agree that aesthetic procedures go beyond vanity, suggesting they are about feeling strong, confident and healthy. 

Many also see them as part of a holistic self-care routine, alongside diet, fitness and mental well-being.

Social media is also helping to normalize aesthetic care, making procedures more accessible and less stigmatized, the report stated.

Patients now openly discuss their experiences and are seeking natural, subtle enhancements, not exaggerated results.

"There’s a trend toward the ‘ballerina body,’" Dr. Michele Shermak, a general plastic surgeon based in Baltimore, Maryland, said in the report. 

"Smaller implants, lifted silhouettes — women want to look refined, not overdone."

Cosmetic procedures weren’t the only area of growth. Over one million reconstructive surgeries were performed in 2024, including the most common ones listed below. 

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"Plastic surgeons are also innovators in complex wound care," said Dr. Sara Dickie, general plastic surgeon based in Morton Grove, Illinois, according to the report. 

"Whether it’s trauma, dog bites or tumor removal, our work goes beyond aesthetics."

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While trends may come and go, ASPS emphasizes that safety should always come first, recommending that procedures are performed by board-certified plastic surgeons with the appropriate training and experience.

"Patients want to look and feel their best," Hollenbeck added. "And when done right, aesthetic care can support mental and physical well-being in truly meaningful ways."

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Afternoon napping could have surprising impact on longevity, study suggests

A new study linking daytime napping to increased mortality rates in older adults may have some rethinking that midday snooze.

The study, presented last month at SLEEP 2025, the 39th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, Washington, found that frequent, longer and irregular daytime naps — especially in the early afternoon — were linked to a higher risk of death over an eight-year period.

"Our study fills a gap in knowledge," lead author Chenlu Gao, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

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The research shows "not just whether someone naps, but how long, how variable, and when they nap during the day may be meaningful indicators of future health risk," he said.

The study included 86,565 participants averaging 63 years of age — all of whom worked regular daytime schedules — who were monitored by actigraphy, which detects movement during sleep but not brain activity. 

Scientists defined daytime napping as sleeping between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

After the initial study, researchers kept tabs on the participants for eight years and discovered that 5,189 (6.0%) of them died during that time period.

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The research showed that taking longer naps — and napping between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — was associated with a higher mortality rate.

Results were adjusted for other potential factors influencing mortality, like demographics, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption and nighttime sleep duration, the researchers stated.

"Naps are not necessarily problematic unless they are used to compensate for chronically poor sleep at night," Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep specialist at Wesper in New York, told Fox News Digital.

"Getting seven to nine hours of good quality sleep is required to maintain health and reduce the risk of developing dangerous medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes," added Rohrscheib, who was not involved in the study.

The study did not establish proof that naps directly affect the risk of death.

"These are associations," Gao told Fox News Digital. "We cannot conclude from this study whether napping causes poor health."

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In another potential limitation, because the study relied on detecting movement but not brain activity, "quiet wakefulness" may have been misclassified as sleep. 

Additionally, defining daytime napping as sleep between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. could have mistakenly included participants’ actual sleep, affecting the accuracy of what would count as a nap, the researchers stated.

Excessive napping could also be a marker of other health issues, such as chronic disease, systemic inflammation, or disruptions to circadian rhythms, which may themselves increase mortality risk. 

"Someone who requires daily naps to get through the day is likely not getting sufficient sleep during the night, or has an underlying health condition that causes daytime sleepiness," Rohrscheib noted.

Gao added, "We need more research to understand the causal relationships before we can conclude that a certain type of napping pattern would benefit health."

"However, we suggest that monitoring napping patterns might help us identify health conditions early, so that we can implement interventions accordingly."

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine encourages healthy adults to limit naps to no longer than 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon.

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While a brief "power nap" can improve daytime alertness and performance, naps of 30 minutes or longer may cause a person to feel groggy after waking up. This grogginess, or "sleep inertia," can delay the short-term benefits of a nap, experts say.

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Overall, the findings suggest that when it comes to mid-day snoozing, moderation is key — and that napping patterns could be a window into broader health concerns worth discussing with a medical provider.

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Gut microbes could be key to fighting toxic, long-lasting 'forever chemicals,' research says

A new study suggests gut microbes can help protect humans from toxic, long-lasting "forever chemicals."

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified that a natural "gut microbiome could play a helpful role in removing toxic PFAS chemicals from our body" following a study on mice, according to a media release. 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, "are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. 

"We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells," Dr. Kiran Patil, from the University of Cambridge’s MRC Toxicology Unit and senior author of the report, said in a statement. 

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"Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects," he said. 

Researchers say that more than 4,700 PFAS chemicals are widely used today. Some quickly exit the body through urine; others could linger for years.

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"We’re all being exposed to PFAS through our water and food – these chemicals are so widespread that they’re in all of us," Dr. Anna Lindell, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s MRC Toxicology Unit and first author of the study, said in a statement.

"PFAS were once considered safe, but it’s now clear that they’re not. It’s taken a long time for PFAS to become noticed because at low levels they’re not acutely toxic. But they’re like a slow poison," she said. 

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Patil and Lindell are now working to create probiotic supplements to increase the amount of the beneficial microbes in people's guts to help protect against harms from PFAS.

Until then, researchers say people can help protect themselves from PFAS exposure by avoiding PFAS-coated cooking pans and by using a "good water filter."

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"Given the scale of the problem of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, particularly their effects on human health, it’s concerning that so little is being done about removing these from our bodies," Patil said. 

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Best and worst breads for your health, according to nutrition experts

After Joe Rogan voiced his concerns about the bread offerings in America, experts are sharing their tips on choosing the healthiest varieties.

On a recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," the famed podcaster claimed that most of the breads in the U.S. are unhealthy and contribute to inflammation.

"A lot of inflammation comes from diet," Rogan said. "Our bread is f***d — if you go overseas, and go eat bread in Italy, you won’t feel bad at all."

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The podcaster then shared an Instagram reel from holistic health influencer Dennis Echelbarger (Denny_Dure) claiming that bread can leave people feeling "bloated, brain-fogged and tired."

Many point to gluten as the culprit, Echelbarger said in the video, but he claims it’s "just the scapegoat."

"The real issue is ultraprocessed, chemically altered, bleached, bromated, fake vitamin-filled wheat soaked in glyphosate," he concluded.

Rogan added, "I know when I cut that stuff out of my diet, it made a giant difference."

He noted that one exception is sourdough bread, which he said is "great for you."

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For those who do eat bread, Rogan said, "You have to get it from a place that has heirloom wheat." 

(Heirloom wheat, also known as heritage wheat, refers to older varieties that have not been genetically modified and may have higher nutritional value.)

New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, author of "2-Day Diabetes Diet," says it’s not necessary to completely avoid bread to improve your health, but pointed out that not all varieties are created equal.

"There’s a wide range of breads — from those that can negatively impact your health to options that offer potential health benefits," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Breads made from refined flours, such as white bread, can cause rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar, increasing the risk of weight gain and type 2 diabetes over time, the dietitian warned. 

Instead, she recommends opting for whole-grain and high-fiber breads that break down more slowly, helping to stabilize blood sugar and improve long-term glycemic control.

When choosing a bread, it’s important to read labels carefully and assess the ingredient list, Palinski-Wade advised.

"The first ingredient is what makes up the majority of the bread, so this should be a whole grain," she said. "From there, the shorter the ingredient list, the better."

An ingredient list made up of whole grains, yeast and a bit of salt — as well as limited added sugars and preservatives — is ideal, according to the dietitian. "Some brands add seeds or legumes as well," she added.

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Among store-bought breads, one of Palinski-Wade’s top recommendations is Ezekiel bread, which includes sprouted whole grains and legumes, uses minimal processing and has limited added sugars and preservatives.

"Another easy-to-find option is the line of breads from Dave’s Killer Bread," she shared. "Made with organic whole grains, this line of bread contains minimal preservatives, added sugars or refined grains."

Overall, the dietitian said, it’s best to choose bread that contains mostly whole grains with little added sugars and preservatives, has a taste you enjoy, and works for your lifestyle.

Julie Stefanski, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics in Chicago, said that lumping all bread together as potentially harmful is a "big oversimplification." 

"As Americans, we have access to an enormous number of food choices," she told Fox News Digital. "When deciding what type of bread to purchase, a person should consider how often they choose it, how large a portion they consume and their own medical issues."

Those who eat bread frequently or in multiple servings may want to prioritize choosing a healthier, whole-grain option, she advised.

"When choosing bread with fewer preservatives and simpler ingredients, consumers need to be aware that the bread will not last as long, and may need to be frozen and toasted to eventually make use of an entire loaf," Stefanski pointed out.

Sourdough bread has been shown to have a lower glycemic index (GI) than white bread, Stefanski noted, and thus can be easier to digest than other wheat breads.  

"A lower glycemic index (which measures how quickly any given food spikes a person’s glucose levels) means the bread digests and turns into blood sugar slightly slower than typical white bread," she said. 

"In the process of making sourdough bread, the bacteria and yeast in the starter for the bread partially breaks down the carbohydrates that are in the wheat."

People who are typically sensitive to digesting the sugars in wheat may notice less bloating, gas and digestive issues when eating sourdough bread compared to other varieties, according to Stefanski.

Palinski-Wade agrees that sourdough bread is a good choice, but "not superior."

"Whole-grain sourdough would be better than white sourdough, but sprouted grain breads would most likely be superior in antioxidants, fiber and nutrient composition," she told Fox News Digital.

Making your own sourdough bread at home can be a healthy choice, Palinski-Wade added — but that isn’t always a feasible option for people who are short on time or traveling.

Dr. Jason Fung, a Toronto-based physician who is also an expert in intermittent fasting, agreed that bread’s effect on health hinges not only on its carbohydrate content, but also on how quickly the starches are absorbed into the bloodstream. 

"If you eat commercial white bread, the glucose in that starch is very, very quickly turned into glucose in the blood," he reiterated to Fox News Digital.

"This is because the flour is very refined — removing fiber, fats, proteins and bran, which all slow absorption — and is also very finely machine ground. This fine grind creates white flour, which is a dust that is quickly absorbed by intestinal cells."

The texturizers and emulsifiers in commercial white breads — which are added to make them softer and easier to eat — also cause them to be more quickly digested and absorbed, Fung noted.

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"You can see the effect of this on the glycemic index, which measures how quickly bread spikes your glucose," he said. 

The GI is a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest glucose spikes. White bread has a very high GI of 73, Fung said, while machine-ground whole wheat is not much better, at 70.

To counteract this effect, Fung recommends choosing any of the following healthier options.

"You can also slow down the absorption of glucose by eating bread with olive oil and also vinegar," Fung advised.

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Palinski-Wade agreed that it’s important to carefully choose what bread is paired with.

"Choosing breads with a low glycemic index and pairing them with foods rich in fat, protein or fiber can help minimize blood sugar spikes and support better glucose management," she said.

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Top cosmetic procedures revealed in new report: What's trending and why

Americans continue to invest in their aesthetic health.

A new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows steady growth in cosmetic procedures last year, particularly in body contouring and minimally invasive treatments. 

The report's data, detailed below, reveals where people are spending their money.

Of the nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2024, liposuction and breast augmentation topped the list.

HAS KRIS JENNER FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH? EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HER STUNNING TRANSFORMATION

"Surgical procedures grew by 1% from 2023," ASPS President Dr. Scott Hollenbeck, a general plastic surgeon based in Charlottesville, Virginia, shared in a press release, noting that body contouring procedures saw the highest increase. 

Thigh and buttock lifts were up 3%, while arm and neck lifts rose 2%. 

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TRUMPS POPULAR OZEMPIC TREATMENT IN SHOCKING NEW COMPARISON

Surgeons believe this may reflect the rising use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, like Ozempic and Wegovy, which can lead to sagging skin.

Minimally invasive procedures continue to dominate the aesthetic landscape, with over 28.5 million performed last year. The top five listed below led the pack.

"These treatments remain strong due to their affordability and low downtime," said ASPS member surgeon Dr. Kristy Hamilton, a general plastic surgeon based in Houston, Texas, in the release.

"Despite so-called ‘filler fatigue,’ HA fillers continue to top the list — when done naturally, they’re extremely effective," she added.

For the first time, ASPS tracked the use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, noting that over 837,000 prescriptions were written by ASPS surgeons in 2024. 

Of those patients, 20% had already undergone surgery, 39% were considering surgery and 41% were exploring non-surgical options, the report shared.

WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS’ IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDY

"These medications are helping patients reach a healthy weight before surgery," Dr. Heather Faulkner, a cosmetic plastic surgeon based in Atlanta, Goergia, said in the release. 

"But they’re not substitutes — you must be near your goal weight before considering procedures like tummy tucks or lifts."

A number of factors could contribute to the high demand for cosmetic procedures, according to experts.

"Maybe it’s greater exposure through social media or a general decrease in taboos," said Hollenbeck. "Either way, patients are prioritizing their aesthetic health."

Surgeons agree that aesthetic procedures go beyond vanity, suggesting they are about feeling strong, confident and healthy. 

Many also see them as part of a holistic self-care routine, alongside diet, fitness and mental well-being.

Social media is also helping to normalize aesthetic care, making procedures more accessible and less stigmatized, the report stated.

Patients now openly discuss their experiences and are seeking natural, subtle enhancements, not exaggerated results.

"There’s a trend toward the ‘ballerina body,’" Dr. Michele Shermak, a general plastic surgeon based in Baltimore, Maryland, said in the report. 

"Smaller implants, lifted silhouettes — women want to look refined, not overdone."

Cosmetic procedures weren’t the only area of growth. Over one million reconstructive surgeries were performed in 2024, including the most common ones listed below. 

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"Plastic surgeons are also innovators in complex wound care," said Dr. Sara Dickie, general plastic surgeon based in Morton Grove, Illinois, according to the report. 

"Whether it’s trauma, dog bites or tumor removal, our work goes beyond aesthetics."

For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health

While trends may come and go, ASPS emphasizes that safety should always come first, recommending that procedures are performed by board-certified plastic surgeons with the appropriate training and experience.

"Patients want to look and feel their best," Hollenbeck added. "And when done right, aesthetic care can support mental and physical well-being in truly meaningful ways."

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Living near a golf course is linked to Parkinson’s risk in new study as some cite limitations

If living near a golf course seems scenic and relaxing, it may also be linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a surprising new study that comes with some limitations.

Led by the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, along with Mayo Clinic, the study found that the greatest risk was found among those who live within one to three miles of a golf course.

"The strongest effects were in municipal water service areas with a golf course and in regions with vulnerable groundwater based on the bedrock and topography," lead study author Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Barrow Neurological Institute, told Fox News Digital.

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"These findings suggest that pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of PD [Parkinson's disease] for nearby residents," the researchers concluded in the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open.

The case-control study analyzed data from 419 Parkinson’s patients averaging 73 years of age and living near 139 golf courses in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

They then made comparisons to control data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project from 1991 to 2015.

"We had accurate data on golf course locations, and we could accurately determine the source of an individual's drinking water – whether that be municipal water or private well water," Krzyzanowski noted.

Living within one mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing the neurological disease compared to living more than six miles away, the study found.

People living near water service areas with a golf course had nearly twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s compared with individuals in water service areas without golf courses.

Those living in water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions had an 82% higher risk, according to the findings.

(Vulnerable groundwater is more susceptible to contamination from human activities and environmental factors.)

The associations remained even after the researchers adjusted for age and income, which suggests there could be something more than demographics driving the relationship between golf course proximity and risk of Parkinson’s disease, Krzyzanowski noted. 

"We speculate that pesticides might play a role; however, we didn’t include data on pesticides in this study, so future research is needed to better understand what’s going on," she said.

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Dr. Mary Ann Picone, medical director of the MS Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, was not involved in the study but shared her opinion of the findings.

"There has often been discussion regarding risks for development of Parkinson's disease and environmental agents such as pesticides," she told Fox News Digital. 

"Further research is needed with larger groups of patients, but this study does increase the concern about the association between pesticide exposure and risk of Parkinson's, especially within a one- to three-mile radius and groundwater and well vulnerability."

Airborne exposure to the pesticides was also a factor, she added.  

The main limitation of the study is that it is not possible to quantify the amount of exposure each person receives, according to Dr. Rodolfo Savica, Mayo Clinic neurologist and senior author of the study.

"Unfortunately, there are many other aspects as well that can interfere with developing a disease," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Despite that, we are trying our best to contemplate and adjust for any possible additional information, but sometimes that is not possible."

The study was limited to a region with hot and humid summers, specifically southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, where golf courses may have applied pesticides with more frequency compared to other geographic regions. 

"Therefore, our results might not generalize to other areas," the study lead noted.

Other relevant Parkinson's risk factors, such as head trauma history and genetic predisposition, were not accounted for, Picone noted.

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Krzyzanowski also pointed out that Parkinson’s disease develops many decades after exposure, so the study aimed to estimate exposure from long ago. 

"If pesticides were involved, they would be the ones sprayed a long time ago and that might be different from what’s being sprayed today," she said.

Picone agreed that because this study looked back to 2013, it is possible that different pesticides used before 2013 were not tracked.  

"However, this study does provide evidence for an association between living on a golf course and pesticide groundwater exposure and risk of Parkinson’s development, and does raise concern and the need for larger population sample research," she shared with Fox News Digital.

Krzyzanowski added that because this was an observational study, the researchers couldn't make causal conclusions about the results.

"If you’re worried about exposure of any kind, you should consult with your doctor," she advised.

A spokesperson from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas, provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response to the study.

"Public health experts and researchers who have reviewed the study have noted that the study’s methodological limitations make it difficult to draw conclusions from the data. As noted by the authors of the study, the role of pesticide exposure from golf courses in Parkinson’s disease risk remains unclear. Without the methodological gaps being filled, the hypothesis linking golf-course pesticide exposure to Parkinson’s Disease remains speculative."

The spokesperson noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rigorously tests and registers the pesticides that the golf industry uses to maintain healthy golf course turf. 

"Pesticides registered by the EPA do not, according to the top researchers in their field, create unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment when used according to label directions," the spokesperson continued.

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"Golf course superintendents are leading practitioners of integrated pest management, a philosophy that reduces the potential environmental risks of pesticide usage."

Mayo Clinic's Savica recommended that older adults continue to stay active, which is crucial for their well-being. 

"I recommend people continue to play sports outdoors and enjoy the sociality of any activity, including playing golf," he said. 

"On the other hand, I would recommend that people be very careful and avoid exposure to places where we know there can be an interaction between pesticides and contaminants."

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