I’ve been diving deep into the unsettling world of microplastics lately, exploring their potential dangers to our health.
That Reusable Water Bottle Might Be Killing You (Slowly)
A bit hyperbolic, I grant, but the truth might surprise you.
You’re Drinking Plastic: How Tea Bags Are Harming Your Gut
I love tea.
It’s a topic that keeps becoming more alarming, and a new study has added to the confusion.
We already know these tiny plastic particles, manufactured or broken down from larger plastics, damage our environment.
Past research has linked microplastics to a higher risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, lung disease, and even cancer.
The average person ingests tens of thousands of these particles yearly through the water, food, and air we drink.
New Research on Microplastics and Dementia
And now, this latest research has me even more concerned.
A team led by Dr. Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico has discovered something disturbing:
Microplastic levels in the brain are significantly higher than in other organs like the liver and kidneys.
This finding, published this month in Nature Medicine, raises serious questions about what these particles do to our brains.
I will explore what this could mean for our health, particularly concerning conditions like dementia.
Polyethylene — Most Common Brain Microplastic
Researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator collected between 2016 and 2024.
The study examined human brain microplastic concentrations.
Could these tiny particles pose a threat to our neurological health?
The investigators developed a technique that allowed them to identify 12 polymer types in the brain.
Polyethylene — a plastic widely used in bags, packaging, water pipes, and insulation — was the most common polymer in the brain.
Upon analysis of the study’s findings, researchers found this:
Microplastic concentrations were much greater in the brain than in other body areas, including the liver, kidneys, placenta, and testes.
High Brain Microplastics Linked to Dementia
The association does not imply a causal relationship, but this finding particularly struck me:
Brain tissue from individuals diagnosed with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics than those without the disease.
Their study showed brain tissue to have a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).
Their study revealed a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in these areas.
This finding raises crucial questions about the mechanisms by which MNPs reach brain tissue, the processes involved, and how they might contribute to nerve degeneration.
Further research is needed to understand these pathways and their potential impact on neurological health.
Protecting Your Brain From Microplastics
Here are some ways you might protect your body (including your brain) from microplastics:
- Use reusable containers, avoiding plastics where possible
- Minimize single-use plastic use (and certainly do not use it over and over)
- Choose foods (including seafood) that are from sources with fewer microplastics
- Minimize ultra-processed food consumption
Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: Preliminary risk assessment.
- Don’t heat plastic food packaging.
- Avoid bottled water. I prefer filtered tap water.
- Vacuum your home frequently. Invest in a HEPA vacuum device.
- Have a good ventilation system at home (and ideally at work, too)
- Wear natural clothing (such as organic cotton or hemp instead of synthetic fibers)
- Avoid air pollution if possible
Remember: Much global plastic production is used to package food and beverages.
However, this plastic is susceptible to wear and tear during use, which fragments the material into tiny particles known as microplastics.
What are your thoughts? Am I overly concerned about microplastics? It is a de minimus risk?
