Irish Travellers have a better natural protection against some diseases than settled people but they are in danger of losing that advantage, according to a new study. Settled people do not have the same defences as Travellers against inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, arthritis and Crohn's disease. The study warns that pressures to change their traditional lifestyles can cause Travellers to lose this unique health advantage. "I was intrigued that Irish Travellers do not tend to get some inflammatory diseases - MS and arthritis. If you ask me, I would say I think the Travellers' microbiome is far more desirable than the microbiome of the settled Irish," he said.

Source: Irish Independent July 12, 2020 01:36 UTC