A recent study has revealed a shocking truth—your brain might be carrying a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics.
Published in Nature Medicine, the research found high concentrations of microplastics in human brains, raising concerns about their role in neurological diseases. Scientists at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences (UNM) discovered that brain plastic accumulation has surged by 50% in eight years, with dementia patients showing up to 10 times higher plastic levels than others.
Lead author Matthew Campen noted that these plastics may obstruct blood flow, interfere with brain connections, or contribute to protein buildup linked to dementia. However, their exact impact remains unknown.
Microplastics are tiny particles, while nanoplastics are even smaller, invisible to the naked eye. They permeate food, water, and air, meaning exposure is nearly unavoidable. Erica Cirino, from the Plastic Pollution Coalition, said finding plastic in the brain is alarming but not surprising.
For the study, researchers examined brain tissue from 2016 and 2024, identifying 12 different plastic types, with polyethylene—found in packaging and bottles—being the most common. Tiny fragments as small as 200 nanometers were detected, small enough to breach the blood-brain barrier, which usually protects the brain from harmful substances.
With links to heart disease, stroke, reproductive issues, and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the global health risks of microplastics are mounting.
Experts suggest reducing exposure by using glass or stainless steel bottles, shopping with reusable bags, and choosing secondhand clothing. While eliminating plastics entirely is unrealistic, small lifestyle changes can limit ingestion and inhalation of these particles.
