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Can Antiperspirants Cause Alzheimer’s?

Q. I 
have read that aluminum seems to be associated with Alzheimer’s 
disease. Could the aluminum in antiperspirants increase the risk? What else can you use to reduce underarm sweating and odor?

A. The aluminum-Alzheimer’s connection has been debated for decades. Although there is no definitive proof, scientists have linked elevated levels of aluminum to the development of dementia (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, May, 2007).

It is not clear whether enough aluminum is absorbed from antiperspirants to pose a problem. There are options without aluminum, however. Some readers find that milk of magnesia applied to the underarm makes a safe and effective deodorant.

One person reports: “I am allergic to every kind of antiperspirant and commercial deodorant. I heard about milk of magnesia and have been using it very successfully for about six years. There is no smell or residue on clothing.”

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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