- A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that sensory nerve cells remember past allergen exposures, causing stronger allergic reactions over time.
- The nerve cells recognize shared features among different allergens, which may explain why developing sensitivity to one trigger can increase susceptibility to others.
- Scientists found that allergic memory in nerve cells fades over time and are now exploring ways to deliberately reset it to prevent allergy development.
- The breakthrough comes as human-caused climate change worsens seasonal allergies by extending pollen seasons and delaying autumn freezes across the United States.
- Around 80 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, which wet conditions driven by the El Niño climate pattern are further exacerbating this fall.
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