The impact of microplastics on our brain functions
Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size, are increasingly being found in various environments, including the human body. While the current understanding is that microplastics can accumulate in human brains, there is not yet definitive evidence proving they cause direct harm.
Recent research in animal models suggests that microplastics can obstruct tiny blood vessels in the brain, reducing blood flow and impairing brain function. This manifestation is seen in behavioral and cognitive problems. In humans, microplastics have been detected in brain tissue, and some studies have observed that people diagnosed with dementia have significantly higher concentrations of microplastics in their brains compared to cognitively healthy individuals. However, causality has not been established. It remains unclear whether microplastics contribute to neurological diseases like dementia or just accumulate more readily in already diseased brains.
Experts caution that while microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment and detected throughout the human body, including crossing the blood-brain barrier, evidence of harm specifically from brain microplastic accumulation is still limited and under investigation. Potential mechanisms of harm include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and promoting aggregation of pathological proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
The increasing ubiquity of microplastics is a key issue in efforts to create a plastic pollution treaty. The World Health Organization found in a review in 2022 that the evidence is insufficient to determine risks to human health from microplastics. Most research into the effects of microplastics on health is observational and cannot establish cause and effect.
Many health experts cite the precautionary principle, stating that the potential threat microplastics could pose requires action. A report by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health published this week stated that policy decisions cannot wait for complete data on the health risks of microplastics. Chinese researchers have found that microplastics can cause rare blood clots in the brains of mice by obstructing cells.
The most prominent study on microplastics in brains was published in the journal Nature Medicine in February. The study found that the amount of microplastics in the samples increased over time. However, Oliver Jones, a chemistry professor at Australia's RMIT University, found there was not enough data to make firm conclusions on the occurrence of microplastics in New Mexico or globally.
Despite the concerns, Jones stated that there is no evidence, as of yet, of harm from microplastics in brains, even if they are present. The amount of plastic the world produces has doubled since 2000 and is expected to triple from current rates by 2060.
In conclusion, while the evidence is still emerging, the potential for microplastics to impact human health, particularly in the brain, is a cause for concern. More research is needed to clarify the risks and recommend limiting exposure as a precaution. The UN is holding talks on plastic pollution next week, providing an opportunity for global leaders to discuss and address this pressing issue.
- The research in the field of environmental science, focusing on microplastics, has indicated that these tiny fragments of plastic might obstruct blood vessels in the brain, potentially leading to behavioral and cognitive issues, similar to those seen in dementia.
- Similarly, health-and-wellness experts have raised concerns about the impact of microplastics on human health, specifically their potential to cause harm in the brain by promoting oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the aggregation of pathological proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
