Myth
1: Memory loss is a natural part of aging.
Reality: As people age, it's normal to have occasional memory
problems, such as forgetting the name of a person you've recently met.
However, Alzheimer's is more than occasional memory loss. It's a disease that
causes brain cells to malfunction and ultimately die. When this happens, an
individual may forget the name of a longtime friend or what roads to take to
return to a home they've lived in for decades.
It can be difficult to
tell normal memory problems from memory problems that should be a cause for
concern. The Alzheimer's Association has developed information to help you tell the difference.
If you or a loved one has memory problems or other problems with thinking and
learning that concern you, contact a physician. Sometimes the problems are
caused by medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies or other conditions
and can be reversed with treatment. The memory and thinking problems may also
be caused by another type of dementia.
Myth 2: Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal.
Reality: Alzheimer's disease has no survivors. It destroys
brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body
functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person's identity,
ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her
way home.
Myth 3: Only older people can get Alzheimer's.
Reality: Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even
50s. This is called younger-onset Alzheimer's. It is estimated that there
are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in
the United States. This includes 5.2 million people age 65 and older and
200,000 people younger than age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Myth 4: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Reality: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a
possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure
to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans,
antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any
role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s. Experts today focus on other areas
of research, and few believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any
threat.
Myth
5: Aspartame causes memory loss.
Reality: This artificial sweetener, marketed under such brand
names as Nutrasweet and Equal, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for use in all foods and beverages in 1996. Since
approval, concerns about aspartame's health effects have been raised.
According to the FDA,
as of May 2006, the agency had not been presented with any scientific
evidence that would lead to change its conclusions on the safety of aspartame
for most people. The agency says its conclusions are based on more than 100
laboratory and clinical studies. Read the May 2006 FDA statement
about aspartame.
Myth 6: Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Reality: A theory linking flu shots to a greatly increased risk
of Alzheimer’s disease has been proposed by a U.S. doctor whose license was
suspended by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Several
mainstream studies link flu shots and other vaccinations to a reduced risk of
Alzheimer's disease and overall better health.
Myth 7: Silver dental fillings increase risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Reality: According to the best available scientific evidence,
there is no relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer's. The
concern that there could be a link arose because "silver" fillings
are made of an amalgam (mixture) that typically contains about 50 percent
mercury, 35 percent silver and 15 percent tin. Mercury is a heavy metal that,
in certain forms, is known to be toxic to the brain and other organs.
Many scientists
consider the studies below compelling evidence that dental amalgam is not a
major risk factor for Alzheimer's. Public health agencies, including the FDA,
the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization, endorse the
continued use of amalgam as safe, strong, inexpensive material for dental restorations.
Myth 8: There are treatments available to stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Reality: At this time, there is no treatment to cure,
delay or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. FDA-approved drugs
temporarily slow worsening of symptoms for about 6 to 12 months, on average,
for about half of the individuals who take them.
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from Alzheimer’s Myths
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