Aluminum and Alzheimer’s: Is There a Connection?

Studies have not found evidence that aluminum contributes to Alzheimer’s disease development. But research is ongoing, and you could be a part of it.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that is one of the most prevalent types of dementia. In addition to causing memory loss, it can affect the ability to think and manage daily tasks. Alzheimer’s also has an impact on the loved ones of anyone who has the disease as they watch that person transform before their eyes.

While experts believe that this disease is caused by an excessive buildup of proteins around and in brain cells, many people believe that aluminum exposure might also be to blame. This lay theory assumes that because aluminum has been linked to other neurological issues, it could influence the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Let’s look at whether a true link exists between Alzheimer’s disease and aluminum, as well as the possible risks of aluminum exposure.

Scientists have not yet uncovered exactly what causes Alzheimer’s. But they do know that a combination of factors — such as age, genetics, environmental factors, and even lifestyle habits — can encourage the development of the disease.

Because of the environmental component, it’s understandable that people might think exposure to potentially toxic materials could lead to Alzheimer’s. However, research has not conclusively shown a link between aluminum exposure (such as wearing deodorant and antiperspirants, cooking with aluminum bakeware, or using aluminum foil) and Alzheimer’s.

So, at least within the medical and scientific communities, the theory that aluminum exposure could lead to Alzheimer’s is not widely supported or promoted.

Aluminum is naturally found in your body. You consume it in your daily diet, and it’s specifically found in processed foods. It can be measured in your blood and urine. But aluminum found in water and foods is not easily absorbed by your body.

While a few studies have found that excessive aluminum exposure can lead to other negative health outcomes, the same can’t be said for directly linking aluminum with Alzheimer’s development. Depending on the study, a case can be made for or against this theory.

One 2017 research review that examined previous in-depth reviews of aluminum levels in the body focused on people who worked in industries that would increase their exposure to aluminum. The authors state that the known maximum biological tolerance for occupational aluminum exposure is 50 micrograms per gram (mcg/g) of creatinine in the urine.

The review authors found that only people with a recorded exposure of 100 mcg/g of creatinine in their urine showed a decrease in performance on neurological tests that checked for attention, learning, and memory. And even with those criteria, those participants did not show signs of encephalopathy or dementia.

A 2018 review of studies targeting the presence of heavy metals in people with Alzheimer’s did find a correlation between higher aluminum levels and the disease. But while the authors of this review highlighted a pattern, they stopped short of declaring a definitive link and instead suggested that more research is needed.

A 2021 Canadian study was commissioned to determine whether there was a link between aluminum in drinking water and Alzheimer’s. This study found no clear correlation.

Ultimately, all current studies maintain that further research is needed and that no conclusive connection can be made between aluminum levels in the body and the development of Alzheimer’s.

Current research either rejects the idea that aluminum can harm your brain or states that the evidence is inconclusive, but the myth persists.

This myth likely arose from studies published in 1965 that involved animals. But those studies did not account for real-world limitations. Specifically, the animals in the experiments were exposed to extremely high aluminum levels, far more than a person would ever experience in real life.

After those studies, people began to speculate that aluminum exposure from canned foods or cookware, or even trace elements in processed foods or drinking water, could negatively affect people. But subsequent studies have been inconclusive.

Sometimes misunderstanding or “cherry picking” scientific data can also lead to confusion on the subject. For example, the Canadian study mentioned earlier can be interpreted to make it look like it supports the conclusion that high aluminum levels in drinking water were causing Alzheimer’s.

In their results, the authors did find higher levels of Alzheimer’s, but that same subset of participants also had higher concentrations of apolipoprotein E (a protein controlled by the APOE gene), a known factor that can increase a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s.

A correlation could be found only when looking at the cohort with higher concentrations of the APOE gene.

If you want to help solve the mystery of what causes Alzheimer’s, check out ClinicalTrials.gov to see what studies are currently looking for participants. Just make sure to check with your doctor before starting any trial, especially if it would involve changes to any medications you’re currently taking.

While the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease has not been fully established, it is possible to experience aluminum poisoning, which could lead to brain damage.

Too much aluminum exposure can have negative effects on your parathyroid glands, liver, kidneys, and brain. It can hinder the production of hormones and proteins, disrupt cellular processes, and lead to serious health problems such as kidney failure and impairments in brain function.

Typically, the level of aluminum in the blood is less than 10 mcg per liter (L), or up to 60 mcg/L for those on dialysis. Anything higher than 100 mcg/L may be toxic.

Because aluminum may negatively affect the brain, it’s possible that it may play a role in the development of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. But this has not been definitively proven, and more research is necessary.

Experts believe that Alzheimer’s disease does not have a single definitive cause. Rather, its development is likely a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

While researchers have not identified a single direct cause of Alzheimer’s disease, they do know that age is one of the biggest contributing factors.

Aluminum has been a convenient scapegoat thanks to early studies with faulty methods, but research conducted with clear parameters and better oversight remains inconclusive on aluminum’s ability to trigger Alzheimer’s.

It’s also important to remember that people are routinely exposed to aluminum and can usually have anywhere from 30 to 50 mcg of aluminum in their bodies.