jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow) (11/29/83)
No one has established that aluminum is the problem. Note that in the
previous study, the affected patients had four times the normal aluminum
concentration in certain parts of their brains. Is this a problem with
aluminum or a problem with abnormal metabolism? Perhaps Alzheimer's is due
to a metabolic problem in certain people rather than Al. Since it is also
known that Alzheimer's runs in families, this in fact seems likely.
Not to say one shouldn't be careful, but it galls me to see people jumping
to conclusions that simply aren't borne out by experiment (.....yet).
Can it,
Jeff Winlsowdyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer) (11/30/83)
Yes, it's true that the suspicion recently placed upon aluminum hasn't been proven by experiment. Most of the evidence so far has been circumstantial--elevated concentrations of Al in brain cells of Alzheimer's disease victims at autopsy, and dementia in dialysis patients given antacids containing aluminum. But, it does point out an opportunity to exercise prudence until the facts are in, given that that there is no human nutritional need for aluminum, and that there are alternatives available for cookware, baking powders, and antacids. -- /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca