Nanoplastics linked to Parkinson's disease in new study

Nanoplastics, particles 50 times smaller than a human hair, have been implicated in Parkinson's disease, according to a new study from Dublin City University. These ubiquitous pollutants, found everywhere from the North Pole to the ocean depths, pose a serious threat to both human and environmental health.

The study reveals that nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with a protein called alpha-synuclein. This normally benign protein forms toxic clumps called fibrils in the presence of nanoplastics, becoming too large for brain cells to recycle. These fibrils are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease and some forms of dementia.

Watch to learn more about this research on nanoparticles.