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Evaluation of Neurotoxicity in BALB/c Mice following Chronic Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics
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Researchers found that chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics in mice led to learning and memory problems along with signs of neurotoxicity. The study suggests that long-term microplastic exposure may impair brain function in mammals. These findings raise important questions about the potential neurological risks of microplastic exposure for the broader public.
Collectively, our results suggested that PS-MPs exposure can lead to learning and memory dysfunctions and induce neurotoxic effects in mice, findings which have wide-ranging implications for the public regarding the potential risks of MPs. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10255.
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Polystyrene microplastics affect learning and memory in mice by inducing oxidative stress and decreasing the level of acetylcholine
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Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics orally for four weeks and found that the particles impaired learning and memory functions. The microplastics caused oxidative stress in the brain and reduced levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter critical for memory. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may pose neurotoxic risks by disrupting brain chemistry and damaging nerve cells.
Exposure to polystyrene microplastics impairs hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in mice
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Researchers found that mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics for eight weeks showed impaired learning and memory, with plastic particles detected in their hippocampus, the brain region critical for memory formation. The microplastics caused neuroinflammation, disrupted synaptic signaling, and altered gene expression in the brain. Interestingly, cutting the vagus nerve partially prevented these effects, suggesting that gut-brain communication plays a role in how ingested microplastics affect cognitive function.
Manifestation of polystyrene microplastic accumulation in brain with emphasis on morphometric and histopathological changes in limbic areas of Swiss albino mice
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Mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics showed cognitive impairment, anxiety-like behavior, and measurable brain damage, particularly in the limbic system regions responsible for memory and emotion. The microplastics accumulated in the brain and caused neuron loss in the hippocampus, along with structural damage to the cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus. This study provides direct evidence that microplastics can reach the brain and cause physical changes that affect behavior and mental function.
Neurotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on memory and microglial activation: Insights from in vivo and in vitro studies
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In a mouse study, tiny nanoplastics (30-50 nanometers) that were swallowed reached the brain and caused memory problems by activating the brain's immune cells, called microglia, which triggered inflammation. This is concerning because it shows that nanoplastics small enough to be found in everyday products like cosmetics could cross into the brain and impair cognitive function.
Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics Alters Cognition, Immune, and Metabolic Markers in an APOE Genotype and Sex-Dependent Manner
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Researchers exposed Alzheimer's disease mouse models to polystyrene microplastics for a short term and observed worsened cognitive performance, altered immune markers, and disrupted metabolic pathways, suggesting that MP exposure may accelerate neurological decline in individuals already vulnerable to dementia.
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