Lab Mice Exposed to Microplastics Show Signs of Dementia

Should you be worried that your brain probably contains enough plastic to fashion a disposable spoon?

Yes, new research suggests: you should.

In a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Communications, researchers found that mice which were regularly exposed to microplastics in their diet developed symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, in less than a single month.

The mice were genetically modified to have a gene associated with a higher risk of the neurocognitive disorder. But only the ones that were exposed to the microplastics showed symptoms at such a marked rate.

It's a startling link between the ubiquitous, tiny sized pollutants and deleterious effects in the brain. Though microplastics are believed to be in the bloodstream of nearl