[Review of studies on exposure to aluminum and Alzheimer's disease].
A review has been made of the epidemiological studies published evaluating the role of aluminum as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. A search for published studies was conducted in the Medline database by combining the terms "Aluminum" and "Alzheimer's disease". In most of the studies reviewed, exposure to aluminum in drinking water was examined. These studies suggest that a relationship exists between aluminum (Al) and Alzheimer's disease involving relative risks of around 2 for populations exposed to Al concentrations in drinking water higher than 0.1 mg/l. Types of exposure to this metal by other means (food, medications and occupational exposure) have received little attention. These epidemiological studies entail certain methodological limitations, and their results are not consistent, so the results available to date therefore not making it possible to clearly determine that any relationship exists between exposure to aluminum and the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, the toxic effect of aluminum on human health cannot be ruled out either, and thus exposure to aluminum should be monitored and limited as far as possible.
Suay Llopis
Loreto
L
Escola Valenciana d'Estudis per a la Salut (EVES), Unidad de Epidemiología y Estadística, C/Juan de Garay 21 46017 Valencia.
Ballester Díez
Ferran
F
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D051381:Rats; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
D000535:Aluminum