2023-04-29 15:00:00
1.2 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in France, according to health insurance. This is the most common neurodegenerative pathology in France, followed by that of Parkinson’s, which affects 167,000 patients, according to theNational Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). For these two pathologies, there is currently no curative treatment.
Tiny polystyrene particles present in the brains of mice
According to a study published in the journal Nanomaterials, one of the risk factors for these two neurodegenerative diseases could be the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the brain. But how do they get there? During their work, the scientists orally gave different sizes of polystyrene MNPs to mice. They thus discovered that only two hours after their ingestion by the rodents, tiny particles of polystyrene were present in their brains. They had managed to cross the blood-brain barrier which initially prevents pathogens and toxins from reaching the brain.
Microplastics: their presence increases the risk of inflammation
By continuing their work on computer tools, they realized that polystyrene MNPs with a biomolecular crown, a structure that surrounds some MNPs, had managed to reach the brain.
MNPs whose size is measured in micrometers and endowed with a biomolecular crown can therefore cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain. Once inside, their presence increases the risk of inflammation, which is a risk factor for certain neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a human being ingests around 100,000 microplastics every year. Per week, this is equivalent to five grams of plastic, i.e. the amount of microplastics contained in a credit card.
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