Blood Type And Risk Of Cognitive Decline:
Breakthrough in Predicting Diseases Such As Alzheimer
A study conducted
by researchers at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the IRCCS
San Camillo Hospital Foundation in Venice, has revealed shows that people with
an ‘O’ blood type have more grey matter in their brain, which helps to protect
against diseases such as Alzheimer’s, than those with ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘AB’ blood
types.
This research
put light on how blood types play a role in the development of the nervous
system and may cause a higher risk of developing cognitive decline.
Methodology
Researchers made
the discovery after analysing the results of 189 Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) scans from healthy volunteers. The researchers calculated the volumes of
grey matter within the brain and explored the differences between different
blood types.
Results
1. Individuals
with an ‘O’ blood type have more grey matter in the posterior proportion of the
cerebellum.
2. Persons with A’,
‘B’ or ‘AB’ blood types had smaller grey matter volumes in temporal and limbic
regions of the brain, including the left hippocampus, which is one of the
earliest part of the brain damaged by Alzheimer’s disease.
3. As we age a
reduction of grey matter volumes is normally seen in the brain, but later in
life this grey matter difference between blood types will intensify as a
consequence of ageing.
The authors conclude as “The findings
seem to indicate that people who have an ‘O’ blood type are more protected
against the diseases in which volumetric reduction is seen in temporal and
mediotemporal regions of the brain like with for example Alzheimer’s disease.
Considering that the biology of blood types influences the development of the
nervous system. We now have to understand how and why this occurs.”
Article citation: Venneri, A.; et. al. ‘O’ blood type is associated with larger grey-matter volumes in the cerebellum. Brain Research Bulletin 2015, 116. DOI:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.05.005
