Aluminum and Alzheimer’s
A new study confirms the link.
A 2020 scientific study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease “supports a growing body of research that links human exposure to aluminum with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).”
Yet, at the time of this writing, the website of the Alzheimer’s Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, still labels the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s a “myth.”
Why not follow the research and avoid unnecessary risks?
Here are some of the places aluminum lurks in our daily lives:
- Soda and other popular beverage cans
- Anti-perspirants — Use an aluminum-free Deodorant instead.
- Cooking pans — Because aluminum conducts heat efficiently, it is a popular cookware. Heather McDougall, CEO of the Dr. McDougall Health & Medical Center in Santa Rosa, California, recommends that if you choose an aluminum pan, pick one that has a non-stick coating so that your food does not have direct contact with the aluminum. Use only a silicone or wooden tool with the pan and a non-abrasive sponge to clean it. Replace the pan when the coating starts to wear. Depending on use, this could be annually.
- Foil
- Smartphone casings
- Computers
While some of these exposures are easy to eliminate and replace — foil, anti-perspirant, and pans — computers and smartphones are more challenging.
A simple risk/reward analysis suggests our best course in preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s is eliminating what we can and minimizing our engagement with the rest.
What can it hurt?
