Once thought to be mainly caused by sticky plaques and tangled proteins, dementia is turning out to be far more complex, and far more human. Scientists now say we’ve overlooked a crucial player in memory loss: the brain’s tiniest blood vessels. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also finding something truly unsettling inside our heads — plastic. Yes, plastic. And it’s turning up most in the brains of people suffering from dementia.
Dr Elaine Bearer, a leading researcher at the University of New Mexico, has spent years examining donated brain tissue under powerful microscopes. Her findings suggest that damage to small blood vessels — often from high blood pressure, diabetes or inflammation — is quietly destroying brain cells. “We’ve been flying blind,” she says. "We haven’t defined these vascular pathologies well, so we haven’t known what we’re treating", adds Dr Bearer.
Many people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s also show signs of vascular damage. “In New Mexico, we suspect about half of Alzheimer’s patients also have disease in the small blood vessels,” says Bearer. This hidden overlap may explain why treatments targeting plaques and tangles alone haven’t worked.
5 hidden ways your brain might be under attack
Small strokes add up: Tiny, often undetected strokes can slowly rob the brain of oxygen and nutrients, killing off neurons bit by bit.
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Your blood vessels are leaking: Damaged vessels let blood serum seep into surrounding brain tissue, sparking inflammation.
Your brain’s bin men are blocked: Poor circulation impairs waste clearance, leaving behind toxic build-up.
Inflammation wears the brain down: Long-term inflammation from vascular damage weakens brain resilience — and memory.
There’s plastic in your head: Bearer discovered microplastics and nanoplastics in the brain — most commonly in people with dementia. They may be fuelling inflammation and accelerating decline.
The National Institutes of Health is now considering a new classification system to better understand vascular dementia and the role of plastics. “What we’re seeing is a need to completely revise how we think about dementia,” says Bearer. "It’s not just Alzheimer’s. It’s blood flow, inflammation — and now, even plastics", cautions Dr Bearer.
Also Read: Diabetes and brain health: Here's how you can keep your memory sharp as you age
FAQs on dementia and hidden plastic particles:
Q: What are the primary causes of dementia?
A: Dementia is complex and can be caused by various factors, including sticky plaques, tangled proteins, damage to small blood vessels, inflammation, and microplastics in the brain.
Q: How do small blood vessels affect dementia?
A: Damage to small blood vessels, often due to high blood pressure, diabetes, or inflammation, can quietly destroy brain cells and contribute to memory loss.
Q: What role do microplastics play in dementia?
A: Microplastics and nanoplastics found in the brains of people with dementia may fuel inflammation and accelerate cognitive decline.
Q: Why have treatments targeting plaques and tangles been ineffective?
A: Many Alzheimer’s patients also have small blood vessel disease, which suggests that targeting plaques and tangles alone is insufficient for effective treatment.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis.
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