Photo Source: Magda Ehlers
A new study from the University of New Mexico has uncovered alarming findings about the presence of microplastics in the human brain.
The research, led by Matthew Campen, revealed that autopsied brain tissue from 2024 contained 50% more plastic than samples taken in 2016. Most concerning, individuals with dementia had three to five times the amount of microplastics in their brains compared to healthy people.
Plastic in the Brain is A Growing Concern
A new study has revealed that the human brain contains significantly more plastic than other organs, with concentrations reaching up to 30 times higher. The average level in normal brain tissue was found to be 4,800 micrograms per gram, about the weight of a plastic spoon.
“Compared to autopsy brain samples from 2016, that’s about 50% higher,” said Campen. “That would mean that our brains today are 99.5% brain and the rest is plastic.” Although the findings are concerning, Campen cautioned that there may be some discrepancies in the measurement process, adding that more precise data should be available within the next year.
Higher Plastic Levels in Dementia Patients
Dementia patients exhibited significantly higher levels of plastic in their brains, with the study showing three to five times more plastic fragments than in healthy individuals. These particles were found concentrated in the walls of arteries, veins, and immune cells.
“It’s a little bit alarming, but remember that dementia is a disease where the blood-brain barrier and clearance mechanisms are impaired,” Campen noted. He suggested that brain inflammation and tissue atrophy may provide a “sink for plastics to go.” Despite these findings, Campen stressed, “We do not currently suggest that microplastics could cause the disease.”
Potential Health Risks Remain Unclear
Microplastics are increasingly found in human tissues, but the long-term health effects are still a mystery. “It is unclear if, in life, these particles are fluid, entering and leaving the brain, or if they collect in neurological tissues and promote disease,” said Phoebe Stapleton from Rutgers University.
While organs like the liver and kidneys may clear some plastics, it remains unclear whether the brain has similar mechanisms.
Plastics Are Everywhere
Plastic contamination in human tissues has surged in recent years, a consequence of the rising global production of plastics. “More than half of all plastic ever made has been made since 2002, and production is on track to double by 2040,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College.
Microplastics have been detected in various parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, liver, and even the placenta. Landrigan’s primary concern is the potential harm these particles cause inside the body.
“What we do know with real certainty is that these microplastic particles are like Trojan horses—they carry with them all the thousands of chemicals that are in plastics and some of these chemicals are very bad actors.” These include endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS, and heavy metals, which are associated with infertility, reproductive harm, and declining sperm count.