Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : June 6, 2015 11:10 AM IST
Scientists for long now have tried to find a treatment and cure for a grave disease like Alzheimer s but have not been lucky yet. Alzheimer s is an age-related neurodegenerative disease and associated with a loss of memory, behavioral problems and thinking. It is one of the most common forms of dementia and scientists have not been able to figure it causes. However, scientists from the University of Sheffield in Britain have identified the factor that reduces one s risk of suffering from Alzheimer s. Read about the symptoms and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
What did the study find?
Researchers believe that people with an O blood type are shielded from the disease as they have more grey matter when compared to people with 'A', 'B' or 'AB' blood types.
How are blood types and Alzheimer s related?
According to the findings of the study, blood types play a role in the development of the nervous system and may increase the risk of cognitive decline. With increasing age, grey matter in the brain reduces and as we age this difference in grey matter between blood types also intensifies.
Matteo de Marco, one of the researchers said that people with an O blood type are more protected against diseases in which there is a volumetric reduction in temporal and medial temporal regions of the brain, similar to Alzheimer s. Read about the 6 ways you can prevent this disease.
How was the study conducted?
They analysed 189 MRI scans from healthy volunteers and studied the volume of grey matter in the brain and how it varies with different blood types.
What did the study conclude?
It was found that people with O blood group had more grey matter in the posterior portion of their cerebellum. Whereas, people with other blood groups had smaller grey matter volumes in temporal and limbic regions of the brain including the left hippocampus, the part that is damaged early during Alzheimer s
The study was published in the journal The Brain Research Bulletin.
Image source: Getty Images
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