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A novel risk factor for dementia: chronic microplastic exposure
Elif Gecegelen, Mete Tuğcan Üçdal, Burcu Balam Doğu. Frontiers in Neurology, 2025-05-30
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Recent advances in dementia research have expanded our understanding of modifiable risk factors, with air pollution being a well-established contributor. However, microplastics-plastic particles smaller than 5 mm-represent an understudied component of environmental pollution that may significantly impact neurological health. This review examines emerging evidence linking chronic microplastic exposure to increased dementia risk. Microplastics enter the human body through multiple routes, including ingestion of contaminated food and water, inhalation, and dermal absorption, with demonstrated ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and initiate several pathogenic pathways. Four primary mechanisms appear to mediate microplastic-induced neurodegeneration: increased oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production; neuroinflammation via microglial activation and chronic inflammatory responses; neurotoxicity from transported persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals; and accelerated amyloid-beta pathology through enhanced Aβ40 and Aβ42 nucleation. Recent bioaccumulation studies have revealed significantly elevated microplastic concentrations in the brains of dementia patients compared to non-dementia controls, supporting a potential dose-dependent relationship. Sources of environmental microplastics include industrial waste, synthetic textiles, plastic degradation products, and tire wear particles, creating a ubiquitous exposure risk through contaminated air, food, and water. While preliminary evidence supports a mechanistic link between microplastics and neurodegeneration, comprehensive epidemiological studies with larger datasets are needed to quantify this relationship and establish dose-response patterns. Future research should focus on identifying which microplastic types pose the greatest neurological risks, determining threshold exposure levels, and developing interventions to mitigate exposure.
Key findings
- However, microplastics-plastic particles smaller than 5 mm-represent an understudied component of environmental pollution that may significantly impact neurological health.
- Microplastics enter the human body through multiple routes, including ingestion of contaminated food and water, inhalation, and dermal absorption, with demonstrated ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and initiate several pathogenic pathways.
- Recent bioaccumulation studies have revealed significantly elevated microplastic concentrations in the brains of dementia patients compared to non-dementia controls, supporting a potential dose-dependent relationship.
Why it matters
This review proposes chronic microplastic exposure as a possible new risk factor for dementia, describing mechanisms such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and accelerated amyloid-beta pathology, and notes higher microplastic concentrations in the brains of dementia patients than controls. It is a review of emerging evidence and does not show that reducing microplastic exposure prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neurology: journal h-index 162 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 33 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 33 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Burcu Balam Doğu: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Hacettepe University: institution h-index 410 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40520605) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1581109
- PubMed: 40520605
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Gecegelen, E., Üçdal, M. T., & Doğu, B. B. (2025). A novel risk factor for dementia: chronic microplastic exposure. Frontiers in Neurology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1581109
Vancouver
Gecegelen E, Üçdal MT, Doğu BB. A novel risk factor for dementia: chronic microplastic exposure. Frontiers in Neurology. 2025. doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1581109. PMID: 40520605.
BibTeX
@article{gecegelen2025-40520605,
author = {Gecegelen, Elif and Üçdal, Mete Tuğcan and Doğu, Burcu Balam},
title = {{A novel risk factor for dementia: chronic microplastic exposure}},
journal = {Frontiers in Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fneur.2025.1581109},
pmid = {40520605},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2025.1581109}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.