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Pots & Aluminum Concerns

Alzheimer's disease is the best-known form of dementia, a loss of brain function that primarily affects older people. It gets worse with the passage of time, and there is no cure as of January 2011. Alzheimer's victims gradually lose their higher brain functions, with memory loss being the most obvious symptom. Mental confusion, loss of critical thinking and personality changes are also common. There have been numerous headlines over the years linking Alzheimer's to aluminum in common household items like soft drink cans, antiperspirants and aluminum pots.

  1. What We Know

    • Dr. Alois Alzheimer was the first to describe the disease in 1906. Much has been learned in the intervening century, though its causes are still unclear. A number of signature changes occur in the brain as the disease progresses. Different types of proteins begin to collect in the brain either as clumps -- known clinically as "plaques" -- or as twisted strands, known as "tangles." Synapses, the electrical conduits between different parts of the brain, begin to break down. Inflammation is common as the brain deteriorates, and eventually brain cells begin to die away in large quantities.

    Causes of Alzheimer's

    • There is no single "cause" of Alzheimer's, but researchers have found a number of factors that may increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Age is an obvious factor, as the risk of Alzheimer's increases over time. Genetics can also be a factor. A small number of families worldwide have a genetic quirk that makes Alzheimer's inevitable, while many more have genes that increase their vulnerability.

    Alzheimer's and Aluminum

    • In 1965 two separate studies suggested a link between Alzheimer's and aluminum. Over the intervening years, many further studies have generated conflicting results. Currently the medical profession as a whole does not support the idea of a link between aluminum and Alzheimer's. Subsequent studies of people who had high levels of aluminum have not shown higher incidence of Alzheimer's, and studies of people with Alzheimer's did not consistently show elevated levels of aluminum.

    Dietary Intake of Aluminum

    • According to studies quoted by the UK Alzheimer's Society, there is a very limited amount of aluminum in the average person's diet. Almost all aluminum consumed under normal circumstances is filtered out by our kidneys, with most of the rest stored away in our bones. Acidic foods like tomatoes and orange juice can temporarily increase our absorption of aluminum, but health authorities and medical researchers still do not see that as an increased risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease

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