ABSTRACT
Comparisons of maps and correlation and regression analysis indicate a geographical association between aluminium in drinking water and dementia in Norway. A major uncertainty, however, relates to the use of registered death rates with dementia as a measure of incidence rates of Alzheimer's disease. Aluminium (Al) is present in neurofibrillary tangle-bearing neurons, and apparently also in the cores of neuritic plaques, the two neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The concentration of aluminium is comparatively high along the south and southeastern coasts, in some areas in the inland of southeastern Norway and in Bergen on the west coast. Aluminium sulphate is added as a coagulating agent to remove humic substances and particulate matter at 17 of the waterworks. In North Norway and in the inland parts of South Norway drinking water very seldom contains more than 0.05 mg Al/L.
