Alzheimers

Is it true that there was no Alzheimer's disease until 1979 -- after the vegetable oils used in margarine were incorporated widely in modern diets? No, that's not true: In 1906 the "unusual disease of the cerebral cortex" was discovered by pathologist Alois Alzheimer. The abnormal brain atrophy he had identified was named after him four years later. An expert…

Is CoQ10 a proven treatment for preventing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease? No, that's not true: A neurologist told Lead Stories that it is "false" to say that CoQ10 can prevent either disease. While some studies have explored the antioxidant's potential benefits, experts that Lead Stories spoke with said that results are not clear enough to prove that CoQ10 prevents either…

Did Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and former Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary, endorse a cure for dementia that can make this condition go away in "7 days"? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found no credible reports about this, and Carson's spokesperson described the claim as "completely fake." There is currently no cure for dementia -- existing…

Is mRNA being integrated into "every childhood vaccine" without regulatory reapproval? No, that's not true: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calls the claim "completely false." There are rigorous regulatory processes in place to evaluate and approve any changes to vaccines, including the incorporation of new technologies like mRNA. Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was the first mRNA product to achieve…

Do cholesterol-lowering drugs, also known as statins, cause Alzheimer's disease (AD)? No, that's not true: A neurologist told Lead Stories there is no truth to this claim and such statements "are not based on any scientific data or valid understanding of the disease." Furthermore, modern scientific literature largely suggests that statins may actually play a role in the prevention of…

Is fluoride a toxic chemical that is neither safe or effective at preventing tooth decay? No, that's not true: In the right concentrations fluoride is a safe and effective tool for preventing tooth decay, although overexposure to high levels of the mineral has been linked to some health issues, according to U.S. health agencies. Fluoride in U.S. public water systems…

Do maps of the world show a strong connection between where fluoride is added to drinking water and dementia? No, that's not true: While there is some correlation between countries that fluoridate their drinking water and countries that have higher rates of Alzheimer's disease, a kind of dementia, there are also examples where that's not the case. The claim appeared…

Does a video of a metal spoon being rubbed on a foot reveal a seven-second method to reverse Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent cause of dementia in the U.S.? No, that's not true: The video has nothing to do with a proven medical method to cure Alzheimer's. There is no cure for Alzheimer's, an expert told Lead Stories. The claim…

Do Alzheimer's and dementia patients "ALWAYS have high levels of aluminum in their bodies"? No, that's not true: A neurologist told Lead Stories this claim was false; a spokesperson for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences said there is not enough evidence to suggest that "increased aluminum is always associated with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease." The claim appeared in…

Does coconut oil prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease? No, that's not true: A spokesperson from the Alzheimer's Association told Lead Stories, "There isn't a single food, ingredient or supplement that -- through rigorous scientific research -- has been shown to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer's or other dementia." A spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) tells Lead…