Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Autism Spec¬trum Disorder (ASD) vary widely across countries. While genetics contribute substantially, environmental and struc¬tural factors may also influence population-level patterns. This ecological analysis evaluates whether aluminum con¬sumption, aluminum can usage, air pollution, water quality, and urbanization co-vary with national burdens of AD and ASD. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used as an analytic tool to support data processing and correlation assessment.

Methods: Ten countries representing diverse environ¬mental and demographic contexts were selected. Publicly available data on AD incidence, ASD prevalence, aluminum consumption, aluminum can usage, air pollution indices, water quality indices, and urbanization rates were com¬piled. Correlation analyses were conducted using AI-assist¬ed tools, and results were visualized in a correlation matrix heatmap.

Results: AD incidence demonstrated strong positive correlations with aluminum consumption (r=0.96) and aluminum can usage (r=0.94). A strong negative correla¬tion was observed with air pollution (r=−0.96). ASD preva¬lence showed moderate to strong positive correlations with aluminum consumption (r=0.80), aluminum can usage (r=0.84), and urbanization (r=0.76). Environmental metrics were highly interrelated, including a strong inverse correla¬tion between air pollution and water quality (r=−0.99).

Conclusions: A consistent ecological pattern emerged: higher aluminum consumption and greater urbanization were associated with higher national burdens of AD and ASD. These findings are hypothesis-generating and under¬score the need for individual-level research to clarify mech¬anisms and disentangle environmental exposures from di¬agnostic and structural influences.

Patrick J. Kearney is a medical advisor with triple Board Certifications in Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Underseas & Hyperbaric Medicine. His medical degree is from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, and Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University.