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Microplastics build up in the human brain and may be linked to dementia, study finds. Find out how to reduce your exposure.
In recent years, the microplastics have become a major environmental and public health concern. These tiny particles are increasingly present in the environment and have now been identified in alarming quantities in the human brain, raising concerns about their impacts on neurological health and a possible link to dementia.
The growing problem of microplastics
Global plastic production exceeds 300 million tons per year, and a significant portion of this material breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics (even smaller particles, between 1 and 1.000 nanometers).
According to estimates, around 2,5 million tons of microplastics were floating in the world's oceans in 2023, a tenfold increase from 2005 levels.
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With the increasing use of single-use plastics, these invisible particles are spreading everywhere: in the air, in water, in food and now, as a recent study points out, inside the human brain itself.
Study reveals accumulation of microplastics in the brain
A research published in the journal Nature Medicine in 2024 discovered that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in greater concentrations in the brain than in other organs, such as the liver and kidneys.
Scientists analyzed brain samples from people who died between 2016 and 2024 and identified a significant increase in the amount of microplastics in more recent brain tissue.
Researchers also detected significantly higher levels of these particles in the brains of people diagnosed with dementia, suggesting a possible link between exposure to microplastics and the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
How do microplastics reach the brain?
Microplastics can be inhaled through the air or ingested through food. Previous studies have found these particles in the lungs, bloodstream and bone marrow.
However, it was believed that only the smallest nanoplastics could cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from toxic substances.
The new study showed that even larger microplastics can cross this barrier and lodge in the brain.
According to researchers, this contamination can occur mainly through inhalation through the nose, taking the particles directly to the olfactory bulb, a brain region connected to the central nervous system.
Microplastics and dementia
Scientists stress that there is still no definitive proof that microplastics cause dementia, but the study found that the brains of individuals with the disease contained three to five times more microplastics than those of healthy individuals.
One of the hypotheses raised is that people with dementia have a blood brain barrier more permeable, allowing greater accumulation of these particles in the brain.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the presence of microplastics contributes to brain inflammation, accelerating cognitive decline.
What can be done to reduce exposure?
Although it is virtually impossible to completely avoid exposure to microplastics, some measures can help minimize the risks:
Reduce the use of disposable plastics, opting for reusable materials;
Ventilate indoor spaces well and clean regularly to reduce plastic dust;
Avoid foods packaged in plastic whenever possible;
Choose personal care products without added microplastics, such as some exfoliants and toothpastes.
Scientists are also studying ways to reduce environmental contamination by microplastics, such as using microorganisms capable of degrading these pollutants and developing new filters to remove these particles from drinking water.
The presence of microplastics in the human brain is an alarming discovery that raises new questions about the health impacts of these pollutants.
Although it is still too early to say whether they cause dementia or other neurological diseases, the association found in the study reinforces the need for more research and measures to reduce human exposure to these particles.
The increase in plastic pollution and its impact on health reinforce the importance of seeking sustainable solutions and raising awareness among the population about the invisible risks that microplastics can pose to our bodies.
