One Major Side Effect of Drinking From a Can, New Study Says

Maybe you've heard that antiperspirants containing aluminum can be dangerous for your long-term brain health. Now, a new study is reinforcing that finding, as a group of scientists have found that the aluminum we consume, such as when we drink from a can, can lead to serious impairment to our long-term cognitive function.

Last month, the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease published a study conducted by four scientists in England. They set out to understand how exposure to aluminum might impact people's genetic predisposition to dementia-related illnesses, like Alzheimer's.

The scientists were aware of past research which had concluded that the aluminum found in everyday products, such as deodorants, is associated with neurodegenerative illnesses and forms of dementia, like Alzheimer's. The scientists examined the presence of aluminum in the brains of donors with a family history of Alzheimer's.

Upon analysis, the researchers found that aluminum was present in the same areas of the brain as the tangles of protein that appear in the early stages of Alzheimer's. The study also found that aluminum itself might play a role in forming the tangles and plaques that precede the onset of Alzheimer's.

However, one fascinating discovery that's come out of this, via Futurism, is that aluminum might not exactly be the culprit for causing Alzheimer's and other dementia. A possible reason for aluminum's effect on dementia may be that, with age, our kidneys become less capable of filtering aluminum from our bodies when we consume it… which could lead to the accumulation of aluminum in the brain.

Still, given the growing canned seltzer trend and the ever-popularity of sodas, it may be worth giving a second thought to the packaging of our beverages.

Thinking about how your everyday choices affect your health? Don't miss The 5 Most Alarming Grocery Store Food Poisoning Risks, Warns FDA.