Minnesota: Researchers have discovered that people who suffer common allergies that cause sniffing and sneezing are more likely to develop the brain disease Parkinson’s.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in the US examined 196 people with Parkinson’s over a 20 year period and compared them with another sample not suffering from the disease. They found that those with allergic rhinitis (sneezing, blocked and runny nose) were 2.9 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s.

The findings, published in the Journal of Neurology, unfortunately will not lead to a cure and sufferers of these allergie are advised to continue with medications recommended by their doctors.

Researchers concluded that the allergies were not the direct cause of the disease but that they may trigger an inflammatory reaction in the brain. Previous research has already established that anti-inflammatory drugs can cut the risk of Parkinson’s.

The findings could lead to new treatments to block inflammation, said the researchers.