From the Journals

Parkinson's Aggravated by Nanoplastics Exposure

Mouse study suggests environmental nanoplastics may exacerbate Parkinson's disease through metabolic dysregulation in the gut, brain, and liver

Share

In a recent study published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, researchers investigated the effects of chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure in an A53T α-synuclein mouse model. Mice were fed nanoplastics every other day for three months, revealing significant changes in gut health, including decreased mucus-producing cells and increased cell death in the gut lining, regardless of genetic predisposition. The gut microbiota also shifted, potentially increasing harmful bacteria linked to α-synuclein aggregation. Additionally, metabolic profiling showed over 200 altered metabolites, with implications for liver inflammation and neuroinflammatory markers detected in the brain.

Original Source(s)

Parkinson's Aggravated by Nanoplastics Exposure

Mouse study suggests environmental nanoplastics may exacerbate Parkinson's disease through metabolic dysregulation in the gut, brain, and liver

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • January 27, 2026

  • 2 min

Related Content

How Metal Imbalance Rewires Metabolism 

Integrated metallomics and metabolomics map metabolic responses to metal imbalance

  • February 25, 2026

  • 2 min
Genetic Mutations in ANO3 Linked to Dystonia

Dysregulated Ca²⁺ signaling due to ANO3 mutations impairs K⁺ channel activation in striatal neurons, offering new insights into the pathophysiology of dystonia.

AI in Neuropathology: How Language Models Are Transforming Brain Tumor Diagnosis

New research explores how integrating AI with clinical guidelines can enhance diagnostic precision for complex brain tumors.