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The role of microplastics exposure in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
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Researchers reviewed the mechanistic links between microplastic and nanoplastic exposure and the two most common neurodegenerative diseases — Alzheimer's and Parkinson's — finding evidence that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier disruption, and protein aggregation are key pathways connecting plastic pollution to neurodegeneration.
In recent times, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated toxicological and pathological evidence of microplastic exposure in neurological dysfunction and diseases. The mechanistic linkage of microplastics and nanoplastic exposure in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease—two of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in humans have not been explored. This gap in knowledge forms the basis of this review. Moreover, the global population keeps ‘consuming’ plastics through the skin, nostrils and mouth—which ultimately could result in intoxication, pathologies and contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This narration examined the relationship between the risk of encountering microplastics and nanoplastics and the possible mechanisms of neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, disruption of the blood–brain barrier, and protein clustering/ aggregation in both animal models and humans. Though strong linkage was found between microplastic exposure and the neurodegenerative diseases, further studies are required in this area—while public health scientist and policy makers are called to act to curb the global environmental challenge of plastic pollution.
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Do microplastics play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases? Shared pathophysiological pathways for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
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This review explores the emerging connection between microplastic exposure and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, identifying shared pathophysiological pathways. Researchers found that microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and may trigger oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and protein aggregation, which are hallmarks of these conditions. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure could be a contributing environmental factor in neurodegeneration, though direct causal evidence in humans is still lacking.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Potential Contributors to Neurodegenerative Disease: Mechanistic Links to Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Epilepsy, and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities
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Researchers review how microplastics and nanoplastics may reach the brain via inhalation and systemic routes, proposing that chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and direct interactions with proteins like amyloid-β and α-synuclein could link particle exposure to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Potential Contributors to Neurodegenerative Disease: Mechanistic Links to Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Epilepsy, and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities
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Researchers reviewed emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to neurodegeneration by promoting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier disruption, and direct interactions with aggregation-prone proteins like amyloid-β and α-synuclein, proposing that pre-existing neurological disease may increase susceptibility to particulate accumulation in brain tissue.
Microplastics as an emerging environmental pollutant potentially leading to neurodegenerative diseases
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the central nervous system, cataloguing the mechanistic pathways — oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, protein aggregation — through which they may contribute to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS, while proposing that environmental microplastic detection and removal technologies could be adapted for CNS applications.
Uncovering the impact of nano- and microplastics on neurodegenerative diseases and strategies to mitigate their damage
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Researchers reviewed evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases by triggering brain inflammation, disrupting mitochondria (the cell's power source), and damaging the blood-brain barrier. The review also found that natural compounds like melatonin and probiotics show early promise in reducing some of these harmful effects.
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