Cancer protects against Alzheimer's disease

Different types of cancer can protect individuals against the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vice versa, a new study finds.

According to the study published in Neurology, dementia and cancer have protective effects against one another.

Alzheimer's sufferers are 69 percent less likely to develop different types of cancer. Cancer victims, on the other hand, had a 43 percent lower tendency to develop AD.

Abnormal cellular behavior is reported to be the main reason contributing to both conditions, the study found.

"In Alzheimer's disease, excessive cell death occurs, whereas cancer is characterized by excessive cell growth,” said lead researcher Catherine Roe.

Such a link, however, was not found between cancer and vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia caused by lack of blood supply to the brain.

Scientists are optimistic that their findings will pave the way for the development of new treatments for both conditions.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114827§ionid=3510210.