Science and Technology Daily News (Reporter Zhang Mengran): The interaction between nanoplastics and a specific protein naturally present in the brain can produce changes related to Parkinson's disease and certain types of dementia. Researchers from Duke University in the United States stated in the latest issue of the journal "Progress in Science" that the impact of environmental factors on human biology has driven research in this new field. Dr. Andrew West, the lead researcher and professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University School of Medicine, stated that Parkinson's disease is known as the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. A large amount of data suggests that environmental factors may play an important role in Parkinson's disease, but these factors have not yet been determined. The processed plastic will accumulate in very small fragments in water and food, and research has shown that these plastics are found in the blood of most adults. The research team found that the nanoparticles of plastic polystyrene (usually present in disposable water cups and tableware) can attract α- The accumulation of synaptic nuclear proteins. The most surprising discovery was the tight binding between plastic and protein in the neuronal regions (lysosomes where these accumulations accumulate). The accumulation of plastic protein occurs in three different models, including in vitro, cultured neurons, and mice with Parkinson's disease. Researchers indicate that although the potential effects of microplastics and nanoplastic pollutants on cancer and autoimmune diseases are being closely evaluated, the interactions observed in the model indicate that the impact of nanoplastic pollutants on the risk and progression of Parkinson's disease and dementia still needs to be evaluated. (New News Agency)