Microplastics may very well be fueling neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, with a brand new research highlighting 5 methods microplastics can set off irritation and harm within the mind.
Greater than 57 million folks reside with dementia, and circumstances of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are projected to rise sharply. The likelihood that microplastics might worsen or speed up these mind illnesses is a significant public well being concern.
Pharmaceutical scientist Affiliate Professor Kamal Dua, from the College of Expertise Sydney, stated it’s estimated that adults are consuming 250 grams of microplastics yearly – sufficient to cowl a dinner plate.
“We ingest microplastics from a variety of sources together with contaminated seafood, salt, processed meals, tea baggage, plastic chopping boards, drinks in plastic bottles and meals grown in contaminated soil, in addition to plastic fibres from carpets, mud and artificial clothes.”
“Frequent plastics embody polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate or PET. Nearly all of these microplastics are cleared from our our bodies, nonetheless research present they do accumulate in our organs, together with our brains.”
The systematic overview, not too long ago revealed in Molecular and Mobile Biochemistry, was a global collaboration led by researchers from the College of Expertise Sydney and Auburn College within the US.
The researchers highlighted 5 fundamental pathways by which microplastics could cause hurt to the mind, together with triggering immune cell exercise, producing oxidative stress, disrupting the blood–mind barrier, impairing mitochondria and damaging neurons.
Microplastics really weaken the blood–mind barrier, making it leaky. As soon as that occurs, immune cells and inflammatory molecules are activated, which then causes much more harm to the barrier’s cells.”
Kamal Dua, Affiliate Professor, College of Expertise Sydney
“The physique treats microplastics as overseas intruders, which prompts the mind’s immune cells to assault them. When the mind is pressured by elements like toxins or environmental pollution this additionally causes oxidative stress,” he stated.
Microplastics trigger oxidative stress in two fundamental methods: they improve the quantity of “reactive oxygen species” or unstable molecules that may harm cells, and so they weaken the physique’s antioxidant methods, which usually assist maintain these molecules in test.
“Microplastics additionally intrude with the way in which mitochondria produce power, lowering the provision of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, which is the gas cells have to perform. This power shortfall weakens neuron exercise and might finally harm mind cells,” stated Affiliate Professor Dua.
“All these pathways work together with one another to extend harm within the mind.”
The paper additionally explores particular methods by which microplastics might contribute to Alzheimer’s, together with triggering elevated buildup of beta-amyloid and tau; and in Parkinson’s by aggregation of α-Synuclein and harm to dopaminergic neurons.
First creator UTS Grasp of Pharmacy pupil Alexander Chi Wang Siu is a at the moment working within the lab of Professor Murali Dhanasekaran at Auburn College, in collaboration with co-authors Affiliate Professor Dua, Dr Keshav Raj Paudel and Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver from UTS, to higher perceive how microplastics have an effect on mind cell perform.
Earlier UTS analysis has examined how microplastics are inhaled and the place they’re deposited within the lungs. Dr Paudel, a visiting scholar within the UTS School of Engineering, can be at the moment investigating the influence of microplastic inhalation on lung well being.
Whereas proof suggests microplastics might worsen illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the authors emphasise that extra analysis is required to show a direct hyperlink. Nevertheless, they advocate taking steps to scale back microplastic publicity.
“We have to change our habits and use much less plastic. Avoid plastic containers and plastic reducing boards, don’t use the dryer, select pure fibres as an alternative of artificial ones and eat much less processed and packaged meals,” stated Dr Paudel.
The researchers hope the present findings will assist form environmental insurance policies to chop plastic manufacturing, enhance waste administration and cut back long-term public well being dangers posed by this ubiquitous environmental pollutant.
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Journal reference:
Chi, A., et al. (2025). Do microplastics play a task within the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative illnesses? Shared pathophysiological pathways for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s illness. Molecular and Mobile Biochemistry. doi: 10.1007/s11010-025-05428-3. https://hyperlink.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11010-025-05428-3
