while there were always a few dementia cases in every generation,
it really appears that this condition has become very greatly more widespread in the last several years
initially, there was some thinking that the widespread introduction of aluminum cans and cooking utensils was involved
right or wrong on that, my bet is that there IS something new in the environment of daily living (or eating) that is boosting the dementia rate (of course, it could be a new infectious agent ... whether natural or manufactured in some unknown lab?)
just a thought. this large increase in dementia seems as if it must have a cause
Hmmm... Aluminum Oxide from antiperspirants? I’ve read some negative comments about the stuff but nothing specific. Curious that aluminum has been mentioned.
Prion disease maybe? Just haven’t figured it out yet?
The largest baby boom has hit old age?
Large baby boom living a lot longer. Many over 100 years.
right or wrong on that, my bet is that there IS something new in the environment of daily living (or eating) that is boosting the dementia rate (of course, it could be a new infectious agent ... whether natural or manufactured in some unknown lab?)
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The government forces milk sellers to add vitamin a to skim milk.
One new thing in the environment is having vitamin a added to so many foods.
Foods contain more vitamin a than we need.
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One change in the American diet is the introduction of seed oils in the 20th century. The highest source of omega 6 fats is seed oils. The percentage of fat in people’s bodies that is omega 6 fats keeps increasing, so that change in diet is still having effects.
It has a cause because people are living longer.
.
Stress makes the blood brain barrier permeable.
Add to that a researcher found bacteria in Alzheimer’s plaques.
I agree with Mears that a longer lifespan leads to more Alzheimer's patients in our lives now. That's a big part of it and maybe there are other causes.
The medical profession has been trying to solve this problem since 1907 when Dr. Alzheimer discovered this disease.
I realize people in their 50s an 60s also get diagnosed with Alzheimers. Years ago in my lifetime old people who got a little wacky were dismissed as being senile or getting demented.
Today every body runs to the Doctors because of health insurance and their dementia gets a name - Alzheimer's, Lewey Bodies, Vascular dementia, etc. So it gets a name.
When I was a kid no one died from cancer, they died from "Consumption".
Now it has a specific name-Lung cancer- Brain cancer - Pancreatic cancer, etc . You would get the impression cancer is out of control.
Bottom line to me is we are living longer, and subject to more diseases , and our younger people are becoming hypochondriacs where their health is concerned. - Tom