Allergies May Reduce Risk of Brain Tumors
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: August 3, 2012
There's growing evidence of a link between allergies and a reduced risk of a type of brain tumor called a glioma. Scientists analyzed blood samples taken from patients, decades before they were diagnosed with glioma.
Men and women whose blood samples contained allergy antibodies had an almost 50% lower risk of developing glioma 20 years later than people without signs of allergies. Women, but not men, with particular allergy antibodies had a 50% lower risk of developing glioblastoma, a more deadly brain tumor that's usually fatal in about a year.
The study is published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Men and women whose blood samples contained allergy antibodies had an almost 50% lower risk of developing glioma 20 years later than people without signs of allergies. Women, but not men, with particular allergy antibodies had a 50% lower risk of developing glioblastoma, a more deadly brain tumor that's usually fatal in about a year.
The study is published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.