Anionic nanoplastics, prevalent in environmental pollution, can hasten the aggregation of α-synuclein, a key protein in Parkinson’s disease. This process potentially worsens the disease’s progression, underscoring an environmental risk factor for Parkinson’s and similar neurodegenerative disorders.
October 2023 – PRE PRINT, National Library of Medicine
Key Takeaways
- Environmental nanoplastics and α-synuclein aggregation: Anionic nanoplastics, commonly found due to widespread plastic pollution, can initiate the aggregation of α-synuclein. This protein’s clumping is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, suggesting a direct link between environmental pollution and the disease’s molecular mechanisms
- Acceleration of neurodegenerative disease progression: The interaction between nanoplastics and α-synuclein not only pertains to Parkinson’s disease but may also influence the progression of other similar neurodegenerative diseases. This aggregation could potentially speed up the onset and severity of these conditions
The interaction of nanoplastics with α-synuclein highlights environmental factors as potential risks in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, emphasising the need to consider environmental pollutants as significant contributors to the increasing prevalence of such diseases, especially in the context of ageing
Read the article at: Liu, Zhiyong et al. “Anionic Nanoplastic Contaminants Promote Parkinson’s Disease-Associated α-Synuclein Aggregation.” Research square rs.3.rs-3439102. 13 Oct. 2023, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3439102/v1. Preprint.