Aluminum in Drinking Water Tied to Alzheimer's

Yahoo News ^ | 4/14/03 | Jacqueline Stenson

[Libloather]

Aluminum in Drinking Water Tied to Alzheimer's
Mon Apr 14, 5:54 PM ET
By Jacqueline Stenson

SAN DIEGO (Reuters Health) - Adding support to a controversial theory linking aluminum with Alzheimer's disease, new research indicates the disease is more common in regions of northwest Italy where levels of aluminum in drinking water are highest.

And when the investigators studied the effects of one form of the metal on two types of human cells in the lab, they found it hastened cell death.

"We were absolutely surprised by these results," said study author Dr. Paolo Prolo, a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles. "I did not expect any effect from aluminum."

In findings released here Monday at the annual Experimental Biology meeting, Prolo and colleagues focused on monomeric -- single molecule -- aluminum. This is the type that can be most easily absorbed by human cells, he said.

While there have been suggestions that aluminum cookware might pose a risk for Alzheimer's, the type of aluminum used in pots and pans consists of multiple molecules and does not appear to affect human cells, according to Prolo. "There is almost no evidence that the cookware is dangerous," he said.

When the researchers tested water in regions of northwest Italy in 1998, they found that total aluminum levels -- including monomeric and other types of aluminum -- ranged from 5 to 1,220 micrograms per liter, while monomeric aluminum levels alone ranged from 5 to 300 micrograms per liter.

Environmental officials generally recommended that total aluminum levels be below 200 micrograms per liter, Prolo noted.

After comparing this data to death rates from Alzheimer's in those regions, the researchers found that the disease was more common in areas with the highest levels of monomeric aluminum.

Back in the lab, Prolo and colleagues then tested the effects of monomeric aluminum on human immune-system cells and bone cancer cells. Ideally, human brain cells would be tested but these are not readily available because a biopsy of a patient's brain is necessary to acquire them, he said.

"We found that a very low quantity of aluminum added to our cell cultures was modifying cellular processes" like normal cell death, Prolo told Reuters Health.

When the aluminum was paired with beta-amyloid, a protein found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the combination killed off even more cells.

Because aluminum could kill both types of human cells, these findings raise the question of whether aluminum is potentially involved in other diseases, Prolo said.

But much more research is needed to understand how the metal does or does not affect people, he added.

[Soul Citizen]

wonder if there should be precautions to breathing compressed air from a scuba tank made of alluminum?

effects of heavy metals similar to that of chem and nerve toxins, as well as electromagnetic and nuke affects.

Just more data on how environmental factors impact biosystems and why inhibitors so valuable.

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[Grand Old Partisan]

I read somewhere that Alzeihmers was not common until the 1840s, when aluminum came into general use.

[cinFLA]

I wouldn't worry about breathing the air but look out for Walter Kidde tanks:

http://www.napsd.com/cscuba.htm

[cinFLA]

But they say there appear to be no effect related to pots and pans.

[demkicker]

One of my best friend's brother is a prominent doctor in Houston. Many years ago, he told everyone he knew not to buy soft drinks or beer out of aluminum cans because it was a FACT that aluminum causes increased chances of getting Alzheimers. Except on rare occassions, I quit buying the cans.

[Dimensio]

Suspicions of a link between aluminium and Alzheimers drove me to give up canned beverages several years ago, though I wonders what implications there are for those who wear tinfoil hats.

[Grand Old Partisan]

On a slightly different topic, I also read somewhere of a strong correlation between schizophrenia and childhood exposure to cats.

[MHGinTN]

I'm wondering that also! Does fluridated water release monomeric aluminum into foods from the cookware?

[CedarDave]

I've heard this for at least 10 years or longer. It's always a good practice to empty yesterday's water in the tea kettle and let the faucet run a couple of minutes to rinse out your house plumbing, especially older homes with galvanized pipes.

[Nick The Freeper]

What about deodorant? I think most antiperspirant deodorants contain aluminum. I imagine your body absorbs at least a little of that aluminum.

[Soul Citizen]

interesting, aluminum is obviously lighter for scuba but steel is still nice.

[MarkL]

Hey! The Aluminum foil (tin foil) is supposed to go on the OUTSIDE of your head!

Mark

[Soul Citizen]

beer tastes better in bottles anyway!

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

There are some weird associations with nerve disorders. For example multiple sclerosis is correlated with, women, over 40 who were born north of 40 degrees latitude. I know some victims odf the disease that fit the profile.

[templar]

Does fluridated water release monomeric aluminum into foods from the cookware?

If it did, the Government wouldn't allow it's use.

[McBuff]

I drank alot of beverages from aluminium cans over the years so I'm concerned that, uh, I'm concerned about the, uh, the, the cans. . .what were the cans? Were they your cans? I'm sorry. . .did I take your cans? I hope I didn't take your cans! You look good, though. . .did I tell you, you look damn good! Okay, I'm gonna rest now. . .but you look good!

[Deep_6]

Re:
"...Aluminum in Drinking Water Tied to Alzheimer's..."

Aluminum, unlike Iron and Steel, will repel any magnetic attraction.. Or more
simply: A magnet will not stick to Aluminum.

There is a very simple test to see if you have an abnormal amount of Aluminum
in your head.

Simply place a decent sized magnet (a refrigerator magnet will suffice) on your
forehead. If it does not stick and falls to the floor, your head may contain an
abnormal amount of Aluminum.