ALZHEIMER'S AND THE WATER WE DRINK

Higher levels of aluminum in drinking water appear to increase people's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, whereas higher levels of silica appear to decrease the risk, according to French investigators.

"Alzheimer's is a multifactorial disease, and aluminum concentrations in drinking water may have an effect on cognitive decline and Alzheimer's," said Dr Virginie Rondeau.

The results of some studies suggest that silica reduces the oral absorption of aluminum or increases the excretion of this metal.

Rondeau, at the Institute National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale in Bordeaux, and her colleagues examined associations between exposure to aluminum or silica from drinking water and the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's among elderly subjects followed for 15 years.

Daily aluminum intake of at least 0.1 milligramme was associated with greater cognitive decline during the course of the study.

Subjects with a high daily aluminum intake had a 2.26-fold increased risk of dementia, the Researchers noted. On the other hand, for every 10 milligramme per-day intake of silica, the odds of developing dementia dropped by 11 percent.

(Source: NST, 12 April 2009 from Reuters)