Researchers Say Amish Lifestyle Could Hold Clues To Reducing Asthma Rates In Children
- 8 years ago
A new study suspects that a more hands-on approach to farming and livestock could be why Amish kids tend to have low asthma rates.
Amish children are known to have relatively low rates of asthma, and researchers now believe the increased immunity may be related to their farming approach.
A recently published study from the University of Arizona and University of Chicago Medical Center arrived at this conclusion by comparing Amish and Hutterite households.
As the New York Times reports, both communities share similar genetic profiles, large family structures, and traditional lifestyles.
However, the Amish tend to be more hands-on farmers whereas the Hutterites often rely on modern, industrialized techniques, notes CBS News.
After researchers noticed a five to seven-fold disparity in asthma rates between the two groups, they decided to investigate.
Blood drawn from 30 Amish kids indicated the presence of more infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils and fewer allergen-related inflammatory triggers called eosinophils compared to their Hutterite counterparts.
The team also determined that the dust from Amish homes recorded nearly 7 times more microbes which are believed to have accumulated, in part, through closer contact with livestock.
According to Gizmodo, "This study strongly suggests that early and frequent exposure to farming microbes, particular those that come from livestock, boosts Amish children’s disease-fighting immune system."
Researchers hope the study can help to inform possible solutions in preventing kids from developing asthma in the future.
Amish children are known to have relatively low rates of asthma, and researchers now believe the increased immunity may be related to their farming approach.
A recently published study from the University of Arizona and University of Chicago Medical Center arrived at this conclusion by comparing Amish and Hutterite households.
As the New York Times reports, both communities share similar genetic profiles, large family structures, and traditional lifestyles.
However, the Amish tend to be more hands-on farmers whereas the Hutterites often rely on modern, industrialized techniques, notes CBS News.
After researchers noticed a five to seven-fold disparity in asthma rates between the two groups, they decided to investigate.
Blood drawn from 30 Amish kids indicated the presence of more infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils and fewer allergen-related inflammatory triggers called eosinophils compared to their Hutterite counterparts.
The team also determined that the dust from Amish homes recorded nearly 7 times more microbes which are believed to have accumulated, in part, through closer contact with livestock.
According to Gizmodo, "This study strongly suggests that early and frequent exposure to farming microbes, particular those that come from livestock, boosts Amish children’s disease-fighting immune system."
Researchers hope the study can help to inform possible solutions in preventing kids from developing asthma in the future.