Linking Microplastics Exposure to Neurodegeneration.
Project Overview
An emerging and largely unaddressed concern for brain health is the chronic exposure to micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in the body and the brain. To address this gap, we will first conduct a case-control study to determine whether circulating MNP levels differ between individuals with dementia and matched healthy controls, then identify candidate biological pathways linking MNP to neurodegeneration using a microfluidic brain organoid on chip platform.
Details:
An emerging and largely unaddressed concern for brain health is the chronic exposure to micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in the body and the brain. However, evidence linking MNP particles to brain health remains limited where a major barrier is MNP accumulation in brain tissue can currently only be measured post-mortem. This limits our ability to investigate whether environmental plastic exposure is associated with neurodegeneration in living populations. As a result, epidemiological evidence connecting MNP exposure to clinical or subclinical markers of dementia remains scarce. To address this gap, we will first conduct a case-control study to determine whether circulating MNP levels differ between individuals with dementia and matched healthy controls, then identify candidate biological pathways linking MNP to neurodegeneration using a microfluidic brain organoid on chip platform.
Project Contact: Chelsea Liu, PhD
Principal Investigator
Chelsea Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Eva Deemer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences