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Everywhere in our surroundings, minuscule plastic fragments invade the human body daily through foods and liquids we consume, and airborne particles we inhale. These pervasive invaders spread throughout every organ and tissue, reaching even the brain, where buildup may spark symptoms resembling Alzheimer's disease. A new study revealed concerning levels of microplastic buildup in the human brain.
Prior research revealed that microplastics can permeate all bodily systems, including crossing the blood-brain barrier. The new study builds on this, investigating the effects of these plastic toxins on brain health. The research focused on mice engineered to carry the APOE4 gene, a significant Alzheimer’s risk.
Researchers administered micro- and nanoplastics through drinking water to two groups of mice, one carrying the APOE4 gene variant and the other with APOE3, for three weeks. They also maintained control groups of both APOE4 and APOE3 mice that were not exposed to plastics. All mice underwent cognitive assessments, including an open field test, to evaluate their cognitive function.
The findings revealed that following microplastic exposure, the APOE4 male mice exhibited increased wandering and spent more time in exposed areas, making them more susceptible to predators. In contrast, female APOE4 mice did not display this behavior. In a distinct novel object recognition test, female mice with the APOE4 gene exhibited weaker memory performance compared to male APOE4 mice. The results confirmed established sex-based differences in Alzheimer’s symptoms observed in humans.
The study verified that plastic particles penetrate the brain, raising significant concerns to justify further investigation into the cognitive decline triggered by exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, which rank among the most pervasive environmental toxins.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics alters cognition, immune, and metabolic markers in an apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and sex-dependent manner
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