Health Tip: Dispelling Alzheimer's Myths

It's not a normal part of aging

(HealthDay News) -- There are a lot of myths surrounding Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, communicate, and perform daily activities, the Alzheimer's Association says.

One myth is that significant memory loss is a natural part of aging. But experts now recognize severe memory loss as a symptom of serious illness.

Another misconception is that Alzheimer's is not fatal. While it begins with the destruction of brain cells that are important for memory, the eventual loss of cells in other areas of the brain leads to the failure of other essential bodily systems.

Third, many people think that drinking from aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots can lead to Alzheimer's. But the association says there's no scientific proof of a link between aluminum exposure and the debilitating disease.

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