Blue Hill, ME – September 9, 2025 – The Shaw Institute, in Blue Hill, Maine, is part of a multi-institutional team of researchers that have been awarded a competitive grant from the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium to investigate a potential new risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease: the presence of plastics in the human brain.
The project, titled “Quantifying Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Aging Brain: Associations with Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Socioeconomic Disadvantage,” will be a collaborative effort with Arizona State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Rush University Medical Center, and the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.
The groundbreaking study aims to systematically quantify the levels of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from human donors. It will then examine how the presence of these plastic particles correlates with known markers of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers want to see if there’s a connection between the amount of MNPs a person has in their brain and important lifestyle factors. They’ll use something called the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) to measure neighborhood wealth specifically. In other words, are people in poorer areas more likely to have more MNPs inside them?
“It’s always an honor for us to not only collaborate with such amazing partners, but to do so with the purpose of providing a better understanding of a disease that so many folks out there are dealing with – directly, or via the experience of a loved one,” said Dr. Charlie Rolsky, the Shaw Institute’s Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist. “I’m so proud to be conducting this critically important research right here in Blue Hill.”
Rolsky explains that MNPs are among the most prevalent environmental pollutants, and there is growing evidence that they can accumulate in human tissue. Preliminary research has shown these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and potentially contribute to brain inflammation. While some evidence exists of MNPs in human tissues, this new project is one of the first to provide a robust neuropathological context by linking them directly to Alzheimer’s disease markers in a well-characterized population.
The research will leverage two unique resources: the Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program, one of the world’s leading brain banks, which is distinguished by its meticulous collection of life history information and rapid donor response, and The Neighborhoods Study, which provides comprehensive life-course socioeconomic data on brain donors. This combination of advanced scientific methods and extensive donor data will provide unprecedented insights into the potential role of environmental pollutants in brain aging and neurodegeneration.
“This is an urgent and critical area of study,” said Dr. Diego Mastroeni, a neurodegenerative disease researcher and lead investigator from Arizona State University’s Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center. “We know that plastics are in our environment and our bodies, but we don’t know the full extent of their impact on brain health. By combining cutting-edge detection techniques with rich patient data, we can start to answer these questions and potentially identify a new and modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.”
The project will employ four advanced analytical techniques—Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (μFTIR), and Flow Cytometry with Nile Red Staining—to ensure accurate and comprehensive MNP quantification. The study will also utilize stringent quality control measures to prevent and monitor for plastic contamination during the analysis.
This research has the potential to establish cerebral MNPs as an environmental risk factor for neurodegeneration, inform future large-scale studies on pollution and brain health, and contribute to public health policy aimed at reducing the impact of plastic pollution on human health.
ABOUT THE SHAW INSTITUTE
Shaw Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific research organization based in Blue Hill, Maine. Established over 35 years ago, the Institute’s mission is to work to discover and expose environmental threats to the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environments we share. Our research on plastics, ocean pollution, marine mammal health, toxic chemicals, and climate change has informed public opinion and influenced public policy, impacting millions of people in Maine, the U.S. and worldwide.
ABOUT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Arizona State University Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center: A top-ranked public research university and center that provides an accessible, high-quality, and innovative education. More info HERE.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: A public land-grant research university and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. More info HERE.
Banner Sun Health Research Institute: A world-renowned research institute dedicated to the study of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. More info HERE.
Rush University Medical Center: An academic medical center that includes a 671-bed hospital and a health sciences university. More info HERE.
Banner Alzheimer’s Institute: A nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. More info HERE.
Media Contact:
Tod Hardin
Head of Marketing & Communications
Shaw Institute
(408) 656-3570
thardin@shawinstitute.org