In a world where plastic is everywhere, a recent study has raised a new concern. Scientists have found that tiny plastic particles, known as nanoplastics, might be linked to serious brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease and certain types of dementia.
Published in the journal Science Advances, this study opens up a new area of research. It looks at how things in our environment, like these tiny plastics, can affect our health.
Andrew West, a leading researcher from Duke University School of Medicine, highlights the urgent need for this research. He points out that Parkinson’s disease is becoming more common worldwide, and we’re still trying to figure out why.
Many believe that things in our environment play a big role, but we don’t know much about what those things are.
One of the biggest problems with plastics is how they break down. When we don’t dispose of them properly, they end up in tiny pieces in our water and food. In fact, a recent study showed these tiny plastic particles in the blood of most adults.
West and his team focused on one type of nanoplastic: polystyrene. This is the stuff often used in disposable items like cups and cutlery. They discovered that these plastic particles attract a protein in our brains called alpha-synuclein.
This protein is linked to Parkinson’s disease and some dementias. The most surprising part of their findings was how tightly these plastics bind to the protein inside a part of our brain cells called the lysosome.
The researchers used three different methods to study this: in test tubes, in brain cells grown in a lab, and in mice with Parkinson’s disease. In all three cases, they saw these plastic-protein clumps forming.
However, there are still many questions. We don’t know exactly how these interactions happen in humans, or if different types of plastics might have different effects.
West points out that while we’re looking at how nanoplastics might cause cancer or autoimmune diseases, we now also need to see how they might affect brain health. The tools to study these tiny plastics are still in the early stages, so we have a lot to learn.
But this research is a wake-up call. We need to understand the risks of nanoplastics so we can protect our health without giving up the benefits plastics bring to our daily lives.
The study was a collaborative effort, with contributions from both Duke University and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
It was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s initiative, highlighting the importance and broad interest in this research area.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about Vitamin E that may help prevent Parkinson’s disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new way to treat Parkinson’s disease, and results showing COVID-19 may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in the journal Science Advances.
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