The Role Of Environmental Toxins In Development Of Alzheimer's Disease

The role of environmental toxins in many chronic medical conditions is currently under investigation. Many chemicals, including heavy metals and other earth elements are now being studied for their effects in the human body, and some have been linked to brain disorders, congenital malformations, and even cancer. Furthermore, there are many chronic conditions whose causes are still undetermined, and scientists continue to look into how environmental factors interact with genetics and lifestyle factors in the development of certain diseases.

Aluminum Toxicity

Aluminum is a naturally occurring substance that makes up about 8% of the earth’s surface.

Everyone is therefore exposed to varying levels of aluminum from air, water, food, medicines, cosmetic products, and other things, such as cooking utensils, food containers, appliances, paints, rubber, glass, ceramics, and other building materials.

Some scientists have hypothesized that the aluminum can slowly, but progressively accumulate in the brain, which can reach functionally toxic levels, and become one of the factors that may induce dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Human exposure to aluminum is common and unavoidable, although our intake is relatively low because it is highly insoluble. Less than one percent of aluminum that is orally taken into the body is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and the average intake is estimated to be about 30 to 50 mg per day. Animal and human studies, on the other hand, show that the absorption of aluminum through the skin may be greater than oral ingestion. One study found that aluminum may still be present in the blood 15 days after application of the substance to the skin of the armpit. Short term symptoms of aluminum toxicity include headaches, learning difficulty, memory loss, loss of coordination, mental confusion, disorientation, flatulence, colic, and heartburn.

Since Alzheimer’s is a chronic disease that takes a long time to develop, long-term exposure to aluminum from water, food and skin products has been suspected as one of the possible factors that contribute to its occurrence in many people. 

Should we be scared that we are exposed to aluminum daily and that it may lead to dementia? It has been long been thought that the accumulation of aluminum in the brain may cause neurological disorders. However, there is still no solid evidence that it directly causes brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is important for us to be aware that there are many chemicals, natural or synthetic, that we use daily, which may have negative effects on our health.

See Also: Alzheimer's Disease - What Is On The Horizon For This Debilitating Disorder?

We must vigilantly increase our awareness about the studies being conducted about them, instead of being complacent with our daily exposure to these. After all, many chronic diseases that cannot be explained by current scientific knowledge on genetic factors now afflict people. They could be the result of mutations in genes induced by environmental factors.