Environmental Toxins Pose Hidden Threat to Brain Health, Scientists Warn
New research suggests that even small amounts of pollutants can lead to a gradual loss of brain cells, resulting in memory loss and motor impairment in affected individuals.
While lifestyle and genetics also play a significant role in brain health, a growing body of evidence indicates that environmental toxins can have a decisive impact on the development of neurodegenerative diseases, according to Dr. Eva Schäffer, a neurologist at the University of Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, Germany.
A recent study in the United States linked pesticides from golf courses to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, a condition characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Another study found a higher incidence of cognitive problems among coastal residents, with microplastics from the ocean potentially playing a role.
Toxicologist Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garciduenas of the University of Montana in Missoula, who has conducted numerous studies in Mexico City, has found alarming evidence of the effects of pollutants on the brain, even in children and adolescents. Exposure to fine particles, for instance, can lead to brain changes characteristic of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, she noted in a recent academic paper.
The harmful effects of pollutants can be attributed to their ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier and travel along nerve pathways into the brain, the expert explained. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where air pollution exceeds the recommended limits.
In light of these findings, Dr. Schäffer recommends washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption, as well as maintaining a balanced diet and regular physical activity. A healthy lifestyle, the expert emphasized, can make the brain more resilient to the environmental toxins that surround us.