(Copyright Fotolia)

By Sylvia Booth Hubbard  

A British study may provide proof that aluminum does indeed have a role in Alzheimer's disease. Although a link had been suspected by many scientists and health authorities for more than 50 years, many claimed there was no definite proof.

In a study of more than 100 human brains, Professor Chris Exley and his research team from Keele University found that some of the highest levels of aluminum ever found were in the brains of people who died of familial Alzheimer's disease.

Familial Alzheimer's disease is an uncommon hereditary form of the disease that strikes earlier in life, generally between 50 and 65 years of age. Symptoms may begin occurring as early as 30 years of age.

Exley's research found that the genetic predisposition to develop early onset Alzheimer's is linked to the accumulation of aluminum — through everyday exposure — in brain tissue.

"Aluminum is a powerful neurotoxin," says neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock. "It has been a suspect in Alzheimer’s for many years as well as in the development of dementia, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and other degenerative diseases."

"Experimental studies show that aluminum can produce all the same changes in the brain we see with Alzheimer’s disease," he tells Newsmax Health.

"Aluminum is an accumulative neurotoxin, even in small concentrations, and it has a tendency to concentrate in the hippocampus, an area of the brain vital to crucial functions including learning, memory, and behavior.

"Older adults have a lifetime of aluminum accumulation, and their defense systems are much weaker, so they are much more susceptible to the toxic effects of aluminum than younger brains," he says.

"There is also powerful evidence that aluminum worsens the effects of other toxins, such as pesticides, herbicides, mercury, and fluoride.

"In essence, accumulating aluminum is making your brain age faster," he says. "You're inducing all sorts of neurological disorders including Alzheimer's."

Below are steps you can take to limit your exposure to aluminum:

Be wary of vaccines. Many vaccines contain aluminum, because it's believed it stimulates the body to generate disease-fighting antibodies. Many common vaccines, including pneumonia, tetanus, and HPV, contain large doses, says Blaylock. These megadoses can have a devastating effect on the brain.

The incidence of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis is exploding, says Dr. Blaylock: "It's not due to the aging of the population. It's due to toxins, like aluminum in vaccines, and no one's telling the truth."

Common vaccines that contain aluminum include: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), hepatitis B, hepatitis A, Hib (haemophilus influenza type B), PVC (pneumococcoal conjugate vaccine), and HPV

Toss aluminum pots and pans. Small amounts of aluminum leach into foods, especially those containing acids. "Aluminum is cumulative, and even small doses over time become highly toxic," says Blaylock.

When aluminum combines with certain acids, such as those in orange juice, aluminum absorption is increased 11-fold," he said. Replace aluminum and nonstick items with stainless steel or ceramic cookware, and don't cook in aluminum foil.

Buy aluminum-free baking powder and read food labels. Aluminum-free brands, which include Rumford, cost just pennies more than regular baking powder. Check food labels for aluminum, which is a common food additive found in processed cheeses, pickles, cake mixes, and bleached flour.

Check drug labels. The popular antacids Gavison, Maalox, and Mylanta all contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also be found in both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers and anti-diarrhea medicines.

Blaylock says you can reduce aluminum in your brain by using the following supplements:

• Ascorbate (as magnesium or calcium ascorbate). A study found ascorbate to be effective at removing aluminum, and higher doses combined with magnesium citramate increased the removal.
• Malate. Malate has been shown to be effective in removing aluminum from the brain.
• Pyruvate (as calcium pyruvate). Pyruvate prevents the brain from absorbing aluminum.
• Flavonoids. Eat a diet high in flavonoid-rich vegetables. Supplements that contain flavonoids, such as quercetin and hesperidin, help prevent aluminum absorption.

You might also choose to drink mineral water. British researchers have shown that drinking silicon-rich mineral water removes aluminum from the bodies of Alzheimer's patients. Silcon is known to help prevent the buildup of aluminum in the body, so researchers asked patients with Alzheimer's to drink a liter (about 34 ounces) of a silicon-rich mineral water each day for 12 weeks.