Microspectroscopy approaches to elucidate the role of micro- and nanoplastics in the in Alzhei-mer's and Parkinson's diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of progressive disorders characterized by the loss of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the exact cause of AD and PD remains unknown. Dominant hypothesis in the field are: amyloid aggregation and neuroinflammation. During degradation, plastics release smaller fragments known as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) or (MNPs). They have been shown to have a variety of adverse effects on human and animal health such as endo-crine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and cancer. In this project we aim to investigate the possible role of MNPs in the AD/PD pathogenesis, given the increasing evidence of a link between microplastics and neurodegenerative diseases, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to develop strategies for mitigating the risk of exposure.