A new study from the University of Sheffield has found that your blood type could play an important role in your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The research discovered a link between particular blood types and the risk of cognitive decline in relation to grey matter (the darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord).
Grey matter helps the brain process information, through sensory input and neural stimulation. The deterioration of grey brain matter is a normal part of ageing, and this process speeds up the older we become.The more rapid our brain matter loss, the more at risk we are of developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The study looked at the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans of 189 healthy volunteers with A, B, AB and O blood types, and found that those with the O blood type had more grey matter in their brains than those with the A, B and AB types. For this reason, the research suggests that those with blood type O have a reduced risk of suffering from failing mental acuity as they age.
A 2011 study published in the journal Neurology found that high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking and being overweight or obese in middle life are also associated with faster declines in brain volume.
While you can’t change your blood type, the good news is that taking control of your lifestyle is a great way to maintain your brain cells. Scientists have found that improving your diet to include all vital vitamins and minerals, practicing meditation, exercising and sleeping well can all increase grey matter levels, and help reduce the rate at which the brain cells deteriorate.
Read more at Medical Daily.
