Golf triples risk of disease leading to paralysis
Golf, gardening and woodworking increased the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in men. This link has been identified by scientists from the USA.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, leads to loss of motor function and cognitive changes. Eventually, paralysis and death ensue. The exact reason why this condition occurs has not yet been determined. According to the conclusions of recent studies, it may be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental toxins, such as pesticides and heavy metals.
Researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (USA) have found further evidence of a link between ALS and the listed toxic substances. They found that hobbies and activities during which a person interacts with pesticide-treated environments increase the risk of the disease. The corresponding scientific paper was published by the Journal of the Neurological Sciences.
Scientists interviewed 400 people with ALS and 287 participants in the control group. Socio-demographic characteristics of all were balanced, except that ALS patients were slightly older (their average age was 63 years, while in the control group it was 61.1 years) and had a lower level of education. Study participants answered questions about hobbies, physical activity and activities that may be associated with exposure to harmful substances.
Male respondents who played golf were almost three and a half times more likely to have ALS. It is common for golf courses for this type of leisure activity to be heavily treated with pesticides. Scientists also noted that gardening, hunting or archery, woodworking and metalworking influenced the risk of the disease. In women, no correlation between occupation and the development of the disease was found, but the scientists admit that there were not enough in the sample for definitive conclusions.
The researchers also learned from respondents with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, at what age they became ill. The authors of the paper noted that the disease manifested itself almost four years earlier in people who had been swimming or weightlifting for five years before diagnosis.
According to the scientists, further research is needed to identify all activities that can lead to ALS. Previous work has shown that working in a mine is unsafe in this sense, but it is important to study not only professional activities, but also ways to spend free time. Information about all the factors that increase the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will improve the prevention of this disease.