Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Khokhlov commented on a study by scientists from the University of New Mexico. Journalists claimed that the researchers found microplastics equivalent to a plastic spoon in the brains of deceased people. The Russian scientist explained that the media misinterpreted the research of foreign colleagues and there is simply no such amount of plastic in the brain.
Khokhlov said that journalists noted that a large number of microplastic particles were found in the brains of those who suffered from dementia before their death. It was indicated that in the period from 2014 to 2024, the amount of microplastics increased by 50%. The scientist familiarized himself with the original text of the article in Nature.
The authors [of the study] do not establish a causal relationship between microplastics and dementia. On the contrary, neurodegenerative diseases can lead to atrophy of brain tissue and disruption of barriers, which contributes to the accumulation of foreign particles.
According to him, scientists extracted brain tissue from formalin. They treated it with alkali. The biological structures that were present in the tissues should have been destroyed. Khokhlov explained that this happens when processing kidney or liver tissues. In the case of brain tissues, more biological material remained in the structures. This indicates that lipids — important components of cells – retained their structure even after alkali treatment.
The claim about the presence of a "plastic spoon" in the brain has no basis. The increase in plastic content between 2016 and 2024 can be explained by differences in sample storage: the 2016 samples were in formalin for eight years, which could have led to their partial destruction.
The scientist added that the authors of the study carefully formulate the conclusions of their work, and sensational headlines in the media often distort the essence of scientific research and misinterpreted data cause misunderstanding.
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