Seminar: Brandon Bearson, Plasticity and Plastics in the Brain

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are abundant in the environment. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that plastic particles are present in human reproductive and fetal tissues as well as the brain. The role of MNP in health outcomes such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is not well understood. We are using a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the abundance and polymer type of MNPs in human cerebrospinal fluid, and in experimental studies, we are investigating the impact of plastic nanoparticles on beta amyloid aggregation and neurotoxicity. We are also investigating plastic nanoparticles as carriers of lipophilic neurotoxicants. Our results to date demonstrate that human cerebrospinal fluid contains thousands of nanoplastics and that aged individuals show higher concentrations. In vitro experiments show that nanoplastics can induce neuronal toxicity and AD-like amyloid fibril formation. Much more work is needed, but preliminary studies suggest that MNPs cause neurotoxicity through their actions on proteinopathies and cellular viability. Regulatory attention and concerted efforts to protect vulnerable people and ecosystems are warranted