Alzheimer’s Disease and Myths About it

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition associated with the brain of a person. It affects the memory, thinking capability and reasoning power of the person suffering from it, generally slowing it down. According to the statistics of Alzheimer Association, there are more than 5 million cases of people living with the condition in the United States. It is also one of the leading causes of deaths.

However, there are various myths associated with the condition that discourages people from asking for help. This often leave the condition undiagnosed and misdiagnosed. But, Dr. Phil McGraw revealed some myths about Alzheimer’s disease in his blog.

The myths and truths associated with the condition are listed below:

Myth: You often lose memory while aging
Reality: Yes, memory loss is common with age, old people might forget some common things like the time to take their medications, or the name of a person they just met. However, Alzheimer’s isn’t a common memory loss. A person suffering from Alzheimer’s starts forgetting some very common things such as the way back to their home or the name of their own family members and friends.

Myth: Alzheimer’s disease isn’t fatal.
Reality: If a person says Alzheimer’s isn’t fatal, they are wrong. It is a serious condition that destroys the brain cells of a person and affects their memory. In severe cases, it can seriously affect the behavior of the person and cam even lead to permanent loss of the functions of body.

Myth: Young people don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s.
Reality: Although most of the cases of Alzheimer’s are diagnosed in older people, aged 65 years or above. But, this doesn’t mean that only old people are at risk of Alzheimer’s. The condition can affect anyone whether they are in their 30s, 40s, or 50s. There are various risk factors for Alzheimer’s that can possibly cause the condition in people.

Myth: Don’t use aluminum pots for cooking food! Avoid the aluminum cans of cold-drinks! They can cause Alzheimer’s.
Reality: It is an outdated myth which was popular during the 1960s and 1970s. However, all the studies conducted to find a link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s failed to explain a connection between them.

Myth: Use of aspartame can cause memory loss.
Reality: Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, was linked to Alzheimer’s and was considered as a possible cause of condition. However, as of 2016, the FDA has yet not received any strong evidence that confirms that aspartame causes memory loss.

Myth: Taking the shots of flu vaccine can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Reality: The reality about the link between flu vaccine and Alzheimer’s disease is that the flu shots or the vaccinations used for other disease can be helpful in decreasing the risk of the condition in people. These vaccines also promote overall health. This fact is proven on the basis of various studies trying to find out the link between vaccinations and Alzheimer’s.

Myth: Alzheimer’s is caused because of silver dental fillings.
Reality: The truth is that there is no certain scientific evidence that proves the link between Alzheimer’s and silver dental fillings.