Microplastics can cross the blood brain barrier and when they do they encounter the brains microglia. The microglia act as the brains immune system and attempt to swallow the microscopic fragments. This causes them to swell and then they can block blood flow and cause neuronal damage. The microplastics cause an inflammatory response which can cause behavioural disturbances. Plastics interfere with the microglia’s ability to regulate connections between neurons. This in turn reduces brain plasticity and accelerates neuronal degeneration.
Is hardly surprising that the incidence of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease has increased in the last 20 years.
In brain autopsies carried out in 2024 the amount of microplastics in human brain tissue had increased by 50% compared with a sample from 2016.
Just how much should we be worried about this?
For 11.25 hrs./wk. my blood flows through disposable dialysis tubing and filters; are microplastics being shed and accumulating in my brain tissues?
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