Golfers Have Over 3 Times Higher Risk of Developing 'This Disease'

A study has found that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that causes muscle atrophy, is associated with certain hobbies such as golf, gardening, and hunting. Golf was found to increase the risk of developing ALS by 3.8 times after five years, which the research team explained could be due to the effects of pesticides used in golf course maintenance.

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On the 14th (local time), MedicalXpress reported that a research team led by Professor Steven Goutman from the University of Michigan Medical School investigated non-occupational hobbies among 400 ALS patients and 287 people without ALS, revealing these findings. The average age of the study subjects was 63 years for the ALS group and 61.1 years for the non-ALS group, with the ALS group having a slightly lower level of education.

The study found that golf could increase the risk of developing ALS by 3.8 times after five years. Recreational dancing doubled the risk, gardening or yard work (such as mowing the lawn and pruning) increased it by 1.71 times, woodworking by 1.76 times, and hunting and shooting activities by 1.89 times.

The research team explained that outdoor activities like golf and gardening might influence ALS due to pesticides. Chemicals in pesticides may affect nerve function and trigger the onset of ALS. The team added, "Previous studies have also reported that people who work in golf course and garden maintenance have a higher risk of developing ALS." They also pointed out that exposure to formaldehyde during woodworking could increase the risk of ALS.

The research team stated that these findings "suggest that recreational activities may also be associated with ALS." The study results were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Neurological Sciences, the official journal of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a rare neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons necessary for muscle movement are lost, causing muscle atrophy and paralysis throughout the body, including the tongue, neck, and limbs. Symptoms include speech difficulties, limb weakness, weight loss, and pneumonia, eventually leading to respiratory failure and death. About 10% of cases are genetic, while the rest have unknown causes. Currently, the exact pathological mechanisms and treatments have not been established. The name "Lou Gehrig's disease" was given in honor of the famous American baseball player Lou Gehrig, who died of this disease at the young age of 38 in the 1930s.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.