Study Links Skin Cancer to Lowered Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Victims of skin cancer may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.

This association is not applicable to those with melanoma, which is a more aggressive type of skin cancer, but less common.

The study was conducted on 1,102 people who belonged to the age group of 79. These participants didn't have dementia at the beginning of the study. The researchers followed them for an average of 3.7 years. At the beginning of the study, 109 people said they had skin cancer in the past. During the study period, 32 people developed skin cancer and 126 developed dementia, including 100 with Alzheimer's dementia.

Those with skin cancer were 80 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who did not have any skin cancer. Among 141 with skin cancer, 2 developed Alzheimer's disease. This same link was absent in other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia.

"One possible explanation could be physical activity. Physical activity is known to protect against dementia, and outdoor activity could increase exposure to UV radiation, which increases the risk of skin cancer," says study author Richard B. Lipton, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY.

Apart from this, genetic factors also play a role, as physical activity does not lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

"People should continue to wear sunscreen, avoid the sun during midday and wear clothing to protect their skin," he said. "The hope is that these results help us learn more about how Alzheimer's develops so we can create better preventive methods and treatments."