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A case-control study linking concentrations of microplastics in human cerebrospinal fluid to intracranial aneurysm risk
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In a case-control study, researchers detected seven types of microplastics in the cerebrospinal fluid of both intracranial aneurysm patients and controls, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most abundant. The study found that higher levels of polypropylene and PVC in cerebrospinal fluid were associated with a significantly elevated risk of intracranial aneurysm, suggesting a potential link between microplastic exposure and cerebrovascular health.
Microplastics (MPs) have become a global concern due to their widespread environmental presence and human health risk, yet their risk on cerebrovascular diseases remains largely unexplored. In this case-control study, we collected cerebrospinal fluid samples from 48 intracranial aneurysms (IAs) patients and 108 leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) patients, and investigated the presence of MPs in these cerebrospinal fluid samples using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven types of MPs were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid samples, among which polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene were present in over 80% of the samples. PE and PP were the most abundant MPs in cerebrospinal fluid samples. When using LM patients as controls, a significantly increased risk of IA was observed for subjects in the highest quartile of cerebrospinal fluid PP and PVC levels. Compared to the lowest quartile, the adjusted risk was elevated by 2.25-fold (95% CI: 1.68-5.94) and 3.82-fold (95% CI: 2.57-5.41) for PP and PVC levels, respectively. Our analysis revealed significant (p for trend <0.01) dose-response relationships between cerebrospinal fluid MP mixture concentrations and IA risk. Bayesian kernel machine regression and quantile g-computation models further revealed synergistic effects of co-occurrence to MPs, with PVC contributing the strongest contribution (weight 55.8%). Our results suggest a potential link between higher cerebrospinal fluid levels of MPs and elevated IA risk, and highlight the need for further investigation into this emerging health risk.
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Association of microplastics in human cerebrospinal fluid with Alzheimer’s disease-related changes
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Researchers detected four types of microplastics in human cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and found that people with Alzheimer's disease markers had significantly higher levels of polyethylene and PVC. Higher microplastic levels in cerebrospinal fluid were linked to worse cognitive test scores and faster mental decline over one year, suggesting a potential connection between brain microplastic exposure and Alzheimer's progression.
Detection of micro- and nanoplastics in cerebrospinal fluid and blood: Implications for brain diseases
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Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in paired cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples from patients with neurological conditions. They detected five types of plastic polymers in both fluids, with blood containing significantly higher concentrations than cerebrospinal fluid, and found correlations between plastic levels in the two fluids among patients with neuroimmune and neuroinfectious conditions. The study also identified disrupted metabolic pathways associated with higher plastic concentrations, suggesting a potential link between plastic particle exposure and changes in brain chemistry that warrants further investigation.
Microplastics detection in freshly harvested human brain tissues of northeast Chinese postmortem donors and their correlation with Alzheimer's disease-related pathological proteins.
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Researchers examined brain tissue from 16 deceased donors in northeast China and found microplastics, including polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene and polypropylene, in all samples. Higher levels of two plastic types were linked to higher amounts of a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, though this does not prove the plastics caused the protein changes.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics in healthy human central nervous system and its blood-brain barrier transmission efficiency-A pilot study
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In a pilot study, researchers measured microplastics and nanoplastics in healthy human brain tissue, blood plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid, finding polyethylene and PVC as the most prevalent types. The study suggests that common plastics can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, with PVC showing a transmission efficiency of about 100%, highlighting the need to consider potential neurotoxic effects of everyday plastic exposure.
Human Exposure to Micro- and Nanoplastics and Their Potential Neurological Implications: A Systematic Review of Emerging Evidence
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Scientists reviewing existing research found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in human brain tissue, spinal fluid, and other organs—especially in people with dementia or brain conditions where the brain's protective barrier was compromised. While this doesn't prove plastics cause brain problems, the pattern suggests a possible link to inflammation and brain health that deserves urgent further study, given how unavoidable plastic exposure has become in daily life.
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