# Does aluminum give you Alzheimer's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812 "2008-02-23T01:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![That1Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@That1Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That1Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/1 "2008-02-23T01:51:21Z")
I’ve heard that using aluminum based deoderants etc. can make you be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s later on in life. Anyone know if this has any truth to it? ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/2 "2008-02-23T01:56:56Z")
[The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_216a.html) [Twice, even!](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971219.html) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/3 "2008-02-23T02:04:33Z")
Missed the edit window… [Here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=453239&highlight=aluminum+alzheimer%27s) a recent thread on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/4 "2008-02-23T15:28:09Z")
For the record, deoderants aren’t aluminum based antiperspirants are. If you ask me, the idea of plugging my pores with anything to prevent them from releasing sweat doesn’t strike me as a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/5 "2008-02-23T15:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] For the record, deoderants aren’t aluminum based antiperspirants are. If you ask me, the idea of plugging my pores with anything to prevent them from releasing sweat doesn’t strike me as a good idea. [/QUOTE] Me neither. I don’t understand antiperspirants; the human body is _supposed_ to sweat. Sweat doesn’t smell bad until it’s been around for a day or two, so if you shower daily, it’s not a problem. At least not for me. However, the LA Times had an article a while ago about researchers discovering that only people who have a certain gene detect body odors as negative. (Why they would research that is another question.) ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/6 "2008-02-23T20:19:20Z")
Perhaps some people don’t like walking around with huge sweat patches under their arms? Sweat also does a number on clothes over time. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/7 "2008-02-24T04:06:27Z")
Yes, sweat will stain your clothes an ugly yellow. Also, the idea that your body is supposed to sweat doesn’t seem like a good argument against antiperspirants. Sweating is a shotgun function of the body to cool it down. If you have a shirt on, there’s no breeze to make it very effective, anyway. Your other areas that are exposed will still sweat, and that won’t ruin your clothes. Also wet patches under your arms are embarrassing if it’s a problem area for you. (thank og I don’t really have that problem, but I use the stuff anyway… can’t be too careful). ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-aluminum-give-you-alzheimers/438812/8 "2008-02-24T04:17:06Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] Sweat doesn’t smell bad until it’s been around for a day or two, so if you shower daily, it’s not a problem. At least not for me. [/QUOTE] You have clearly never met my husband. Or any of my guy friends.