- White Rabbit
- Posts
- Protect your brain in 7 steps
Protect your brain in 7 steps
Dementia sounds scary.
Kos Zharoid
April 13, 2025
Why Dementia rates might be rising.
Think plastic pollution is just a planet problem? Your brain might disagree. New research reveals microplastics can enter through your nose and bypass your brain’s protective barrier entirely. They don’t just settle - they block blood flow and may play a role in memory loss and neurodegeneration. It’s like breathing in brain fog, one fiber at a time.
Hydrow delivers 5,000+ immersive workouts in stunning destinations around the world—right to your home. Exciting news: Readers can now get $500 off the Hydrow Pro with code WELLPRO, or $250 off the Hydrow Wave with code WELLWAVE at checkout. (Offers not stackable.)
Microplastics build up more in your brain than in other organs.
Plastic surrounds us in modern life - in packaging, clothing, and almost everything we use. But did you know plastic is also getting inside your body? Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics pollute our air, water, and food. Scientists now worry about how these particles affect our health, especially our brains.
Tiny plastic particles block brain blood vessels.
The 2025 study in Science Advances revealed how microplastics directly harm brain function. Researchers used advanced imaging to watch microplastics in mice’ brains in real-time. They found that microplastics actively blocked blood flow in the brain's delicate vessel network.
Scientists used special microscopy techniques to look deep into the brains of awake mice. They tracked fluorescent microplastic particles moving through the cerebral cortex, which controls higher-level brain functions.
The images showed that once microplastics enter the bloodstream, immune cells quickly swallow them. These immune cells, trying to protect the body, accidentally become carriers of plastic pollutants. Researchers called these plastic-filled immune cells "MPL-Cells."
These MPL-Cells became trapped in narrow brain capillaries, creating physical blockages that stopped normal blood flow. Larger 5-micrometer microplastics caused more blockages than smaller particles.
These blockages reduce blood flow through brain tissue, starving it of essential resources. This triggered a range of neurological problems affecting movement and thinking.
Mice exposed to microplastics moved less, moved slower, showed worse spatial memory, and had poorer coordination than normal mice. These behavioral changes resembled depression symptoms often linked to poor brain blood flow.
Chronic pain affects about 51 million Americans, with half of them under 45 - leading active lives, managing demanding jobs, and raising young families. For them, pain often defines their future. Older individuals struggle with basic tasks like bathing and cooking. Opioids, steroids, and over-the-counter painkillers come with harmful side effects from long-term use. Nápreva provides rapid, effective relief. Users sleep better and experience less stress and anxiety. Made from plant terpenes, clinical studies show Nápreva may be more effective than traditional pain medications - without the side effects.
Human brains collect more microplastics than other organs.
The 2025 study in Nature Medicine found concerning results about microplastic contamination in our bodies. Researchers analyzed samples from human livers, kidneys, and brains, comparing microplastic levels across these organs. The brain accumulated far more microplastics than other major organs.
Brain samples contained 7 to 30 times more microplastics than liver or kidney tissues. Polyethylene, one of the most common plastics used in packaging and products, appeared most frequently in all tissues.
By comparing samples from 2016 to 2024, researchers discovered microplastic concentrations increased significantly in both liver and brain tissue over these eight years. This suggests that as environmental plastic pollution worsens, the amount in our bodies also increases.
More disturbing still, brains from people with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, contained even higher microplastic concentrations than normal brains. This raises serious questions about whether these pollutants contribute to neurodegenerative conditions.
Your nose provides a direct path for microplastics to enter your brain.
The 2024 study in JAMA Network Open identified a direct pathway for microplastics to reach your brain: through your nose. This research examined the olfactory bulb, the brain region connected to your nasal passages that handles your sense of smell.
Researchers found microplastics in the olfactory bulbs of more than half the people studied. They identified 16 different synthetic polymer particles and fibers in these brain tissues.
These microplastics measured between 5.5 and 26.4 micrometers - small enough to be inhaled deep into the nasal passages. Polypropylene, widely used in packaging and consumer goods, made up nearly 44% of the identified microplastics.
The study shows how these particles can travel through the cribriform plate, a porous bone separating your nasal cavity from your brain. This route bypasses the blood-brain barrier, your body's usual defense against harmful substances, creating a vulnerable entry point for inhaled microplastics.
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
Take action to reduce your microplastic exposure.
To protect your brain and overall health, take these steps to minimize your exposure to microplastics:
Filter your drinking water with a high-quality filter certified to remove microplastics. Choose glass bottles instead of plastic ones. Boiling hard tap water dramatically reduces microplastics.
Choose food in glass packaging when possible. Store food in non-plastic containers and never microwave food in plastic.
Replace plastic cutting boards with wood or glass alternatives. Switch to stainless steel utensils instead of plastic ones.
Wear clothes made from natural fibers like organic cotton, wool, and linen instead of synthetics. Wash synthetic clothes less frequently and consider using a microfiber filter in your washing machine.
Know that plastics contain chemicals that mimic estrogen in your body, disrupting hormone balance. While reducing plastic exposure remains most important, natural progesterone can help counter some of these effects.
Filter the air you breathe:
We do not suggest walking around outside in a gas mask all day, and you can also take off your tinfoil hat.
But there is an excellent option for filtering the supply air into your home. These devices are called wall-mounted fresh air purifiers and are installed on the wall through a hole in it. They supply fresh air to the house; they usually have three-level cleaning: a coarse filter, a HEPA filter (a 2.5 ppm particle filter removes 99% of all particles), and a carbon filter to eliminate odors. Filters are changed every six months on average; they are inexpensive. It has a built-in heating element for cold regions that can heat the incoming air to 68°F (some models have built-in ultraviolet lamps to destroy viruses).
We installed one in our apartment and have loved it for six months. In a polluted city, with this device, we breathe the cleanest, freshest air in the apartment.
The Ramathibodi nasal filter, which is easy to use when leaving the house, has also effectively reduced particle concentrations to 2.5 ppm.
Click image to download this cheat sheet👇
Cornbread Hemp’s CBD Sleep Gummies are here to help you achieve your best sleep yet. Unlike other options, these gummies are USDA organic and melatonin-free. Instead of melatonin, which can leave you groggy, they’re crafted with hemp flower, lavender, chamomile, and valerian root—ingredients that gently calm your mind and promote uninterrupted, restorative sleep. As a [Newsletter Name] reader, you’re in luck: use code RESOLUTION at checkout to enjoy 30% off your first order.*
One-time purchases only, cannot be combined with subscription discounts.
Explore the awesome newsletters 👇
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP offers advice on topics such as health, wellness, family caregiving, and staying relevant in the workplace. Members get everyday discounts, including on groceries, travel and cell phone services.
AARP is also a committed advocate at the federal, state and local level on important issues like Social Security and Medicare. AARP’s publication, AARP The Magazine, is the largest-circulated magazine in the World. Members receive 6 issues per year that include exclusive interviews, health tips and financial advice.
From our archive:
Missed this gem? Discover more health benefits:
Health and nutrition disclaimer: click here.
Reply