As more Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each year, more myths about symptoms of the disease and how it progresses are mentioned often. Part of the issue right now in our society is the lack of knowledge about the disease and how to help those that have been recently diagnosed. In recent blogs, we have discussed what those symptoms are and how you might be able to help those in need.
Listed below are many myths about Alzheimer’s disease that simply aren’t true:
- Memory loss is a natural part of aging. Memory loss is indeed a natural part of aging. However, Alzheimer’s disease actually causes brain cells to malfunction and eventually die. Your loved one will forget significantly more than simply just things that are usually forgotten as we age.
- Alzheimer’s is not fatal. Alzheimer’s slowly takes a person’s body over, making one forget even the simplest of things and eventually losing body function.
- Only the elderly get Alzheimer’s. There are many people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who have been diagnosed with the disease. Alzheimer’s is far from age specific.
- Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum can lead to Alzheimer’s. Simply untrue. No research has ever proven this to be correct.
- Aspartame causes memory loss. According to the FDA there is no research that indicates this artificial sweeter causes memory loss.
- Flu shots increase risk for Alzheimer’s. Actually, the complete opposite. The Canadian Medical Journal and JAMA both link flu shots to a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Silver dental linings increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is no evidence to support this theory. The concern is that mercury is the main substance in silver dental linings, and can be toxic to the brain and organs. However, no research has ever linked the two together.
- There are treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. There is no treatment to stop the progression of the disease.
To learn more about these myths, please click here.
