Nanoplastics as a risk factor of Alzheimer's disease: investigating the contribution of nanoplastic exposure to the worsening of the disease

Project objectives

Characterizing the impact of nanoplastics on human health is important to understand the consequences of the environmental problem due to plastic waste. We live in a world invaded by plastic, which is continuously degraded and transformed into smaller fragments. These nanoplastics are found in the water we drink, in the food we eat, in the air we breathe and through these routes the nanoplastics penetrate the body and produce potentially dangerous side effects for human health. To date, very little is known about the possible role of nanoplastics in promoting the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. This project aims to study how the intake of nanoplastics through drinking water can affect the physiopathology of the brain.  The goal of this project is to shed light on the potential risk of exposure to nanoplastics and how this may affect the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease.

Start and end date

March 2022 - February 2024

Project Manager

Dr. Livia La Barbera, Coordinator

Coordinating institution of the project

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

Other Institutions involved

IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome

Funding source

AirAlzh

Economic value of the project

€ 50.000