According to The Alzheimer's Association, here are
the top 8 myths: 

1. Memory loss is a natural part of aging.  While
its normal to have some memory problems like forgetting someones name of a
person you just met, is completely different than Alzheimers. Alzheimer's is
more than just the occasional memory loss. It's a disease that cause brain
cells to malfunction and ultimately die. When this happens, you will see the
individual forget more and more. The memory and thinking problems may also be caused by another type of
dementia.

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2. Alzheimer's
is not fatal. There
has been no survivors. It destroys the brain cells, causes memory changes and
loss of body functions. It slowly takes away ones identity and the ability to
think, eat, walk or even talk. 


3. Only
older people get Alzheimers. This disease can strike people in
their 30s, 40s or even 50s - thats when its called younger-onset Alzheimer's.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, "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."


4. Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in
aluminum can lead to Alzheimer's. During the 60s and
70s, aluminium was suspect to causing Alzheimer's, Since then, studies have
failed to confirm any role auminium may play. 


5. Aspartame causes memory loss.
Artificial sweetners like Nutrasweet and Equal was approved by the FDA in 1996.
According to the FDA, as of May 2006, there were no scientific evidents that
would lead to conclude that aspartame could cause Alzheimer's.


6. Flu shots increase risk of Alzheimer's. Several mainstram students link flu
shots/other vaccines to actually reducing the risk of Alzheimers. Read Canadian Medical Journal Report and JAMA Report. 


7. Silver dental fillings increase risk of
Alzheimer's disease. While
there is no evidence to support this theory, the concern is that that there
would be a link because "silver" fillings are made of a mixture that
contains about 50% mercury, 35% silver and 15% tin. Mercury is known to be a
heavy metal that can be toxic to the brain and other organs. Read the Journal of the American Dental Association and
the New England Journal of Medicine Report.


8. There are treatments to stop progression of
Alzheimer's. At this time there is no treatment available to
stop the progression or treat the disease. The FDA did approve drugs that
temporarily slow symptons for about 6-12months, about half of individuals take
them. 

More Information
Here. 

Take a tour of your brainHERE! 

  

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