Golfing, gardening may be linked to ALS risk. Here’s how
Global News
Outdoor recreation activities, such as golfing, gardening and hunting may increase a man's likelihood of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study.
With spring finally arriving, Canadians may eagerly consider resuming hobbies like gardening and golfing. But researchers are warning of potential health risks associated with these hobbies, especially those that heighten pesticide exposure.
Research published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences earlier this year found that outdoor recreational activities, such as golfing, woodworking and hunting may increase a person’s likelihood of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), especially among men.
Of all the hobbies examined in the study (such as pottery and swimming), golf was linked with a three-times-greater risk of developing ALS among men.
“We know that occupational risk factors, like working in manufacturing and trade industries, are linked to an increased risk for ALS, and this adds to a growing literature that recreational activities may also represent important and possibly modifiable risk factors for this disease,” said first author Stephen Goutman, a professor of neurology at the University of Michigan and director of the Pranger ALS Clinic.
He stressed that although the research found a link between ALS risk and these outdoor hobbies, it shows “association and not causation.”
“We don’t know what exactly the causative mechanism is or if there is causation. We have to dig deeper and have to explore further,” he told Global News.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a debilitating condition that gradually immobilizes people as the brain loses its ability to communicate with voluntary muscles. As the muscles deteriorate over time, those affected by ALS experience a gradual loss of mobility, speech, and ability to eat, swallow, and eventually breathe.
Each year, around 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with ALS, with a similar number dying from the disease, according to ALS Canada. And around 80 per cent of individuals diagnosed with ALS pass away within two to five years of diagnosis.
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