Artificial Popcorn Flavoring Linked to Alzheimer's

By KSEE News

Artificial Popcorn Flavoring Linked to Alzheimer's

August 9, 2012 Updated Aug 9, 2012 at 8:04 PM PDT

An ingredient used to make artificial butter flavoring for popcorn has been linked to Alzheimer's disease.

The ingredient, diacetyl, is a chemical that's also been linked to respiratory problems in workers at microwave popcorn factories. In test tube studies at the University of Minnesota -- researchers found the chemical lead to an increase in clumps of beta-amyloid.

Beta-amyloid is a protein and marker of Alzheimer's disease in the brain.