Latest news with #NicholasFabiano
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The ‘plastic spoon' of microplastics in your brain could stem from these foods that are wrecking your health, researchers say
Earlier this year, scientists discovered that there is about as much microplastics in the brain as a whole plastic spoon. The paper, published in Nature Medicine in February, revealed that the amount of microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—in the human brain appears to be increasing: Concentrations rose by about 50% between 2016 and 2024. Not only were there more microplastics in the brain than in liver or kidney tissue, but microplastic concentrations were higher in the brains of dementia patients than in those without it. Now, scientists are examining the effect on brain health of microplastics and one of the largest sources of microplastics: ultra-processed foods (UPFs). In a series of four papers published in the journal Brain Medicine, researchers synthesize mounting evidence that microplastics accumulating in the brain—especially those from UPFs—could be contributing to rising global rates of dementia, depression, and other mental health disorders. 'We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all,' said co-author of one of the papers, Dr. Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa, in the press release. 'Ultra-processed foods now comprise more than 50% of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods,' Fabiano said. 'Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities.' The researchers consolidate the science linking UPF consumption with adverse mental health, and how that overlaps with microplastic accumulation in the brain. For instance, they cite a 2024 umbrella review published in the British Medical Journal which found that people who consumed ultra-processed foods had a 22% higher risk of depression, 48% higher risk of anxiety, and 41% higher risk of poor sleep. In the papers, the researchers hypothesize that microplastics could be the missing link in UPFs' impact on brain health, by connecting it to data such as UPFs like chicken nuggets contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts—highlighting how processing could increase microplastic content. 'Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways,' said Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center in Australia. Microplastics can increase inflammation in the brain as they cross the blood-brain barrier, as a 2023 study on mice found, which can put people at risk of neurological disease and degeneration, including Alzheimer's. 'What emerges from this work is not a warning. It is a reckoning,' wrote Dr. Ma-Li Wong, professor of neuroscience at Upstate Medical University in New York. 'The boundary between internal and external has failed. If microplastics cross the blood-brain barrier, what else do we think remains sacred?' Researchers are now looking to understand to what extent ultra-processed foods are responsible for adverse brain health outcomes, and what to do about it. The authors propose the development of a Dietary Microplastic Index, which would quantify people's exposure through food consumption. 'While we need to reduce our exposure to microplastics through better food choices and packaging alternatives, we also need research into how to remove these particles from the human body,' noted Dr. Stefan Bornstein in his paper. One of those potential methods, Bornstein proposes, is apheresis, a process of removing blood from the body and filtering out the microplastics—but he points out that more research is still needed. 'As the levels of ultra-processed foods, microplastics, and adverse mental health outcomes simultaneously rise, it is imperative that we further investigate this potential association,' said Fabiano. 'After all, you are what you eat.' For more on microplastics: Microplastics are everywhere. Here are 5 ways to reduce your exposure Chewing gum is shedding harmful microplastics into your saliva, study finds Tea bags and these 11 foods are likely exposing you to billions of microplastics This story was originally featured on
Gizmodo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
Junk Food Is Filling Our Brains With Microplastics, Raising Mental Health Risks, Scientists Warn
Scientists have found alarming amounts of microplastics in virtually everything, from sea turtles to testicles. But discovering a plastic spoon's worth of these pernicious particles inside human brains may be the most disturbing of all. That recent finding prompted researchers to dig deeper into the health consequences of plastic accumulation in the brain. According to a new review study, published today in the journal Brain Medicine, microplastics may be the missing link in the relationship between ultra-processed foods and certain neurological disorders, such as depression and dementia. 'We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all,' said lead author Nicholas Fabiano, a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, in a statement. 'Ultra-processed foods now comprise more than 50% of energy intake in countries like the United States, and these foods contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods,' he added. Indeed, multiple studies suggest that the more processed a food product is, the more plastic particles it is likely to contain. For example, one study found that chicken nuggets contain 30 times more microplastics per gram than chicken breasts. This may be due to the increased amount of plastic that ultra-processed foods are exposed to during processing and packaging, according to the Food Processing Forum. Other recent studies have shown that microplastics can bypass the blood-brain barrier: a protective layer of cells surrounding the brain that keeps harmful substances out and locks beneficial chemicals in. The authors of the brain-spoon study, led by Alexander Nihart, Marcus Garcia, and Eliane El Hayek of the University of New Mexico, believe that microplastics infiltrate the blood-brain barrier by hitching a ride on fat molecules. Once these particles get inside the brain, they induce oxidative stress that damages cells and increases the risk of neurological disorders, Fabiano's study states. He and his colleagues note that microplastics appear to have a particular impact on neurotransmitters that play a role in neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and dementia. It's a big, bold claim that still needs to be verified with further research. Interestingly, these harmful effects are strikingly similar to those triggered by ultra-processed foods, according to the researchers. A previous review found that people who consumed these foods had a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and poor sleep. And multiple studies have linked this type of diet to an increased risk of dementia. As a result, Fabiano and his colleagues suggest that microplastics could be a hidden driver of neurological disorders associated with ultra-processed food consumption. 'This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms,' said co-author Wolfgang Marx, senior research fellow at Deakin University in Australia, in the statement. 'Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways,' he added. So, that's the bad news. Here's the good news: a complementary study, also published in Brain Medicine today, provides the 'first evidence' to suggest that a well-established medical technique called extracorporeal apheresis could remove microplastics from the body. This procedure involves extracting a patient's blood and running it through a machine that separates it into its parts: plasma and blood cells. Then, the plasma is filtered to remove any unwanted substances (like microplastics) and the clean plasma and blood cells are put back into the patient. It's a relatively simple technique that's used all over the world for certain types of blood donation, therapeutic purposes, stem cell collection, and more. In tests with 21 patients, at least two rounds of extracorporeal apheresis with double-filtration successfully removed microplastics from their blood, according to the study. 'While we need to reduce our exposure to microplastics through better food choices and packaging alternatives, we also need research into how to remove these particles from the human body,' said lead-author Stefan Bornstein, a professor of cardiovascular and metabolic medicine at King's College London, in the statement. 'Our early findings suggest that apheresis might offer one possible pathway for microplastic removal, though much more research is needed,' he added. Thus, as the global plastic crisis becomes more troubling by the day, exploring ways to protect the body from microplastics could help us clear our minds—literally.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The foods ‘driving an autism, depression and dementia epidemic' revealed in bombshell study
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOODS that make up around 57 per cent of the average UK diet are fuelling autism, depression and dementia cases, scientists warn. In a major new review, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been linked to rising rates of neurological disorders. 1 Microplastics are found in alarming quantities in UPFs Credit: Getty The actual culprit is believed to be microplastics, which are found in alarming levels in UPFs. UPFs are more susceptible to microplastics than other foods due to their packaging, additives and the equipment used to process them. Co-lead author of the new paper Dr Nicholas Fabiano, from the University of Ottawa, said: "We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all. "Ultra-processed significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods. "Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities." Another author, Dr Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center, said there is "remarkable overlap" in the way UPFs and microplastics harm mental health. He explained: "This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms. "Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. "Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways." In the new article published in the May issue of Brain Medicine, researchers reviewed studies that focused on the relationship between ultra-processed foods, microplastics and mental health. 5 ultra-processed foods to avoid One study, recently published in The British Medical journal, found people who consumed UPFs had a 22 per cent high risk of depression, a 48 per cent higher risk of anxiety, and a 41 per cent higher risk of poor sleep - which can negatively impact brain health. Another study included in their review found microplastics and nanoplastics induce oxidative stress and the central nervous system, which could lead to cellular damage and raise the risk of neurological disorders. Based on current data, the authors concluded high levels of microplastic contamination in UPFs could be why they have such a detrimental impact on health. Scientists believe UPFs can negatively impact brain health by disrupting the gut-brain axis - communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain - promoting inflammation, and potentially leading to cognitive decline and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Alongside brain health, UPFs have been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes. Consuming lots of UPFs can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A recent study found substituting 10 per cent of UPFs with minimally processed foods reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 18 per cent. A study published last year found people who eat lots of UPFs may be at greater risk of dying early. And there's been some research that indicates a correlation between UPF intake and a higher risk of overall cancer, head and neck cancer, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and brain cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this association and the relative impact of different dimensions of processing on cancer risk.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The foods ‘driving an autism, depression and dementia epidemic' revealed in bombshell study
FOODS that make up around 57 per cent of the average UK diet are fuelling autism, depression and dementia cases, scientists warn. In a major new review, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been linked to rising rates of neurological disorders. The actual culprit is believed to be microplastics, which are found in alarming levels in UPFs. UPFs are more susceptible to microplastics than other foods due to their packaging, additives and the equipment used to process them. Co-lead author of the new paper Dr Nicholas Fabiano, from the University of Ottawa, said: "We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all. " Ultra-processed significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods. "Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities." Another author, Dr Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center, said there is "remarkable overlap" in the way UPFs and microplastics harm mental health. He explained: "This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms. "Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. "Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways." In the new article published in the May issue of Brain Medicine, researchers reviewed studies that focused on the relationship between ultra-processed foods, microplastics and mental health. 5 ultra-processed foods to avoid One study, recently published in The British Medical journal, found people who consumed UPFs had a 22 per cent high risk of depression, a 48 per cent higher risk of anxiety, and a 41 per cent higher risk of poor sleep - which can negatively impact brain health. Another study included in their review found microplastics and nanoplastics induce oxidative stress and the central nervous system, which could lead to cellular damage and raise the risk of neurological disorders. Based on current data, the authors concluded high levels of microplastic contamination in UPFs could be why they have such a detrimental impact on health. Scientists believe UPFs can negatively impact brain health by disrupting the gut-brain axis - communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain - promoting inflammation, and potentially leading to cognitive decline and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Alongside brain health, UPFs have been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes. Consuming lots of UPFs can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A recent study found substituting 10 per cent of UPFs with minimally processed foods reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 18 per cent. A study published last year found people who eat lots of UPFs may be at greater risk of dying early. And there's been some research that indicates a correlation between UPF intake and a higher risk of overall cancer, head and neck cancer, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and brain cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this association and the relative impact of different dimensions of processing on cancer risk. How ultra processed is YOUR kitchen? Ultra processed foods (UPFs) were defined by Brazilian researchers who made the NOVA classification system. It breaks foods into groups depending on how processed they are. The most natural foods are in group 1, while the most processed are in group 4. The groups do not entirely indicate how healthy a food is. However, it does indicate how processed it is - and studies have linked UPFs to a number of diseases. How does your kitchen compare to the following groups? Unprocessed or minimally processed foods (group 1) vegetables and fruits (fresh or frozen) dried fruits with no added sugar, honey, or oil grains and legumes (chickpeas, lentils) meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs milk without added sugar plain yogurt with no added sugar nuts and seeds spices and herbs tea, coffee, water Processed culinary ingredients (group 2) iodized salt salted butter sugar and molasses from cane or beet honey extracted from combs syrup from maple trees vegetable oils crushed from olives or seeds butter and lard from milk and pork starches extracted from corn and other plants vegetable oils with added anti-oxidants vinegar with added preservatives Processed foods (group 3) canned vegetables, fruits, and legumes fruits in syrup salted or sugared nuts and seeds salted cured or smoked meats canned fish artisanal breads and cheese Ultra-processed foods (group 4) pop and fruit drinks sweetened yogurt sweet or savoury packaged snacks (e.g., cookies) candies and cake mixes mass-produced packaged breads and buns margarines and spreads breakfast cereals cereal and energy bars energy drinks instant soups, sauces, and noodles poultry and fish nuggets, hot dogs many ready-to-heat products: pre-prepared pies, pasta, and pizza dishes
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Bombshell study reveals how common foods 'are driving epidemic of AUTISM'
A common food in 70 percent of American diets may be fueling mental illness, dementia and autism. A major new review has linked ultra-processed foods (UPFs) - which includes everything from chips to protein bars - to rising rates of neurological disorders. Researchers believe the hidden culprit could be microplastics, tiny plastic particles now found in soaring levels inside UPFs — and increasingly, in the human brain. Studies have shown UPFs are more susceptible to microplastics as contamination can occur during processing and packaging of the foods - which are often in plastic wrappers and containers. Co-lead author of the new paper Dr Nicholas Fabiano, from the University of Ottawa, said: 'We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all. 'Ultra-processed foods... contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods. 'Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities.' Another author of the article, Dr Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center, said there is 'remarkable overlap' in the way UPFs and microplastics harm mental health. He explained: 'This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms. 'Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems. 'Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways.' In the new article, published in Brain Medicine, the authors reviewed studies that looked at the relationship between ultra-processed foods, microplastics and mental health. One of the studies included in the article was a recent one published in The British Medical Journal. It found people who consumed UPFs had a 22 percent higher risk of depression, a 48 percent higher risk of anxiety and a 41 percent higher risk of poor sleep - which can cause a cascade of poor health outcomes itself. And another study included found microplastics and nanoplastics induce oxidative stress on the central nervous system, which may cause cellular damage and increase the vulnerability to neurological disorders. Based on the authors' review of the current data, they concluded the high levels of microplastic contamination in ultra-processed foods could be why they have such detrimental impacts on health. Scientists think ultra-processed foods damage your gut, and that can in turn damage with your brain. This connection — called the gut-brain axis — means when your gut's out of whack, your mood and mental health can take a hit too. Research has also shown that these junk foods are full of artificial sweeteners, which may throw off the way your brain cells talk to each other and disrupt hormones. On top of that, microplastics in the foods could be linked to depression and anxiety, with researchers warning they might harm brain development, trigger inflammation, and disrupt sleep and mood. The microplastics in UPFs could also be fueling a rise in dementia, researchers of a separate study believe. A study from earlier this year - that was not included in this week's article review - analyzed brain tissue from 54 autopsies and discovered every brain had microplastics in it - equivalent in mass to a plastic spoon. The researchers found individuals diagnosed with dementia exhibited up to 10 times more microplastics in their brain tissue compared to those without this condition. Although the study does not directly connect them, it does show a relationship between the accumulation of microplastics and neurological disorders. SAYS WHO An author of that study said microplastic levels in the human brain have increased by 50 percent over the past eight years - and rates of dementia have also increased, with cases expected to nearly double by 2030. Microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective shield that typically prevents harmful substances from entering the brain. Once inside, these tiny particles may trigger inflammation, disrupt neurological signaling, and potentially contribute to the development of neurological disorders. While scientists are still investigating the direct impact of microplastics on human health, animal studies have shown that exposure can lead to behavioral changes, memory impairment, and reduced motor coordination. Another separate 2022 study found people who ate the most UPFs had a 25 percent faster rate of executive function decline and a 28 percent faster rate of overall cognitive impairment compared to people who are the least amount of processed food. Researchers believe the high content of sugar, salt and fat in UPFs promotes harmful inflammation throughout the body, including the brain, which could harm cognition and memory. Another neurological condition on the rise that could be tied to microplastics in UPFs is autism, which affects one in 31 kids in the US. This is a dramatic increase from one in 150 children two decades ago. Researchers have posited UPFs can negatively impact the gut microbiome, and an off-balance microbiome has often been often in children with autism. There is also some evidence UPFs can alter gene expression that leads to changes in brain development and function. Processed foods can also be high in levels of heavy metals, including mercury and lead, which may contribute to or exacerbate symptoms of autism. There is no known cause of autism. While preliminary research has been conducted on the association of microplastics and autism, scientists say there is not enough information to draw conclusions and more research needs to be done. To address the issue of microplastics, the authors of the most recent article proposed the Dietary microplastic Index (DMI). A system that would quantify exposure to microplastics through food consumption and assess the microplastic content and risk of accumulation based on the foods people eat. Dr Stefan Bornstein, who authored a peer-reviewed research paper on removing microplastics from the body, said: 'While we need to reduce our exposure to microplastics through better food choices and packaging alternatives, we also need research into how to remove these particles from the human body.' In his paper, he posits that a process called apheresis could remove microplastics from the body. This is a medical procedure that removes specific components of blood from the body - like plastics - and returns the remaining components - such as the building blocks that make up blood.
