Re: Alzheimers and Aluminum

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

I’m responding to Cecil’s article on Aluminum and Alzheimers, which can be found at:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971219.html

It was last updated in 1997, and I was wondering if there has been any progress toward understanding the involvement (or lack of) of aluminim on Alzheimers? I’m new to this disease, my grandmother was diagnosed about a year ago, and I just read about aluminum playing a role. I have some aluminum pots that I should probably discard – they belonged to my grandmother, ironically, and I still use them because they are in great shape (they don’t make things like they used to).

So, any news? Should I through the aluminum pots away?

Thanks.

2

Not too long ago I had a very alcohol induced conversation with a professor (Chris Orvig at UBC) that does research on alzheimers disease. The impresion that he gave me was that there were very few adherents to the “aluminum causes alzheimers” theory left. We then ordered another round of beer.

Cecil’s article is correct. They aren’t even sure aluminum connected to alzheimers at all. I wouldn’t worry about the pans.