Cancer Patients at Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Boston (DbTechNo) - Results of a new study show that people with Alzheimer’s disease maybe at reduced risk of developing cancer.

Ironically the study also found that those people with cancer were at a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder, characterized by a build up of a plaque like protein on the brain.

This protein results in impaired brain function resulting in memory loss, and eventual death.

In the study the researchers followed 164 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and 522 people diagnosed with cancer.

The researchers compared data from an extended follow up period, comparing new cases of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer with the known cases.

The researchers noted that people already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, were up to 69% less likely to be diagnosed with cancer.

For those with cancer at the beginning of the study their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease dropped by 43 percent.

The study can be found in the journal Neurology.