What's accumulating in our heads (all of us)

[MarionP]

Surprising, and very concerning, amount of microplastics they found in everybody's head...and three times as much in those with dementia regardless of cause of dementia. In this Nature study report...

nature.com/articles/s41591-...

[Esperanto]

While these findings suggest an association, they do not establish a causal effect of these particles on PD. To investigate this further, refinements in analytical methods, more complex study designs, and significantly larger participant groups are required—an endeavor that may take years or even decades. Meanwhile, pollution continues unabated, similar to the issues we face with heavy metals and pesticides.

In our new world order, this situation is even more dire. There seems to be no priority given to addressing these concerns. When will we take to the streets and demand action? It's time to raise our voices and confront the growing threat of these pollutions. Meanwhile we can reduce plastic use, recycle properly, and raise awareness to combat microplastic pollution effectively.

[MarionP in reply to Esperanto]

Oh well then, good, very relieved to find that it's of no importance and we'll check back in about 30 years.

[Esperanto in reply to MarionP]

On the contrary, this issue must be a top priority. Unfortunately, it could take indeed 30 years before we truly take action. Warnings about the dangers of nanoplastics date back over 20 years, but only recently has a connection to Parkinson's disease been established.

Governance should ensure that products causing irreversible harm to the Earth and humanity are prohibited. The first reports about the dangers of pesticides emerged in the early 1960s, notably with Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" in 1962. Initial evidence linking pesticides to PD appeared in the late 1980s, focusing on exposure to paraquat and rotenone. Since then, further research has confirmed this association, yet 35 years later, a total ban is still absent…

MarionP, your estimate of 30 years seems overly optimistic.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Esperanto]

One thing we can all do is stop eating and drinking from plastic. And stop storing food in plastic.

[TenaciousBlue in reply to Bolt_Upright]

agreed. As soon as I got diagnosed, I just couldn’t stop researching potential causes. I’ll take correlation over saying we don’t know what causes it any day. As a result, I avoid pesticides as much as possible. I’ve changed my diet to avoid ultra processed foods or any processed foods at all. And I immediately threw away plastic food containers, plastic cups and plastic cutting boards. Get aluminum water bottles, drink out of glasses and buy wood cutting boards. They’re not expensive.

[LAJ12345 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

And also things like synthetic carpets and furnishings, and clothes.

Stick to wool carpets from New Zealand 😀 and wool, cotton and linen clothes

[Esperanto]

The following article highlights also the urgent concern regarding the impact of plastics on brain health, particularly in relation to PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

The Plastics Crisis: A Neuropsychiatric Problem Hidden in Plain Sight / Sep 3, 2024 / By Elizabeth Ryznar, MD, MSc, Elizabeth Haase, MD

psychiatrictimes.com/view/t...

[chartist]

Studies are starting to suggest that melatonin might help against microplastics as discussed in the following links:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

The above links are mainly animal studies, but apparently microplastics can negatively impact plant life and this means we likely have much more to worry about than plastic drinking bottles. We will also have to worry about the plant life we are consuming.

Bottom line for me is that I will continue my high dose melatonin intake, both oral and topical, as a potential precautionary measure against microplastics and other toxic agents that we are surrounded by.

Art