Allergy Sufferers 50 Percent Less Likely to Develop Brain Tumors

Allergy sufferers may bemoan associated nasal congestion, watery eyes and fatigue, especially come spring, but the results of a new study may make them thankful for said symptoms. Researchers in Norway now report that those who are afflicted with allergies have as much as a 50 percent decreased risk of developing brain tumors.

The scientists had noticed a link between allergies and glioma previously. Because they knew that the tumors suppressed immune systems in order to grow, they were unsure whether allergies kept the tumors at bay or suppressed the immune system response to allergens. Researchers found answers in one of Norway’s carefully catalogued blood banks, which has kept records from individuals for the past 40 years, collected during annual medical exams or volunteer donations. The country also has recorded every case of cancer since 1953. For more information, click here to read the full release.