Dementia Matters24 Sep 2025

Making Sense of Microplastics: New Research Looks at How Microplastics Build Up in the Brain and Body

Microplastics are a growing concern in the field of environmental health, but their impact on the brain is only beginning to be understood. Joining the podcast to share the latest research on these tiny particles, which have been found in the brain and other parts of the body, is Dr. Matthew Campen, a leading researcher in the field whose work is helping to uncover how environmental exposures like the accumulation of microplastics could affect neurological health, dementia risk and more.

Guest: Matthew Campen, PhD, MSPH, director, New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine, director, University of New Mexico Clinical and Translational Sciences Center KL2 Mentored Career Development Program, deputy director, Training Core director, UNM Metal Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (UNM METALS) Superfund Research Program Center, professor, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Show Notes

Learn more about Dr. Campen and his research at his profile on the University of New Mexico website.

Read Dr. Campen’s article, “Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains,” published by Nature Medicine on Nature’s website.

Read “Nanoplastic concentrations across the North Atlantic,” the research article Dr. Campen mentioned at 23:08, on Nature’s website.

Read “The Story You’ve Been Told About Recycling is a Lie,” the opinion piece Dr. Campen mentioned at 25:40, on The New York Times website.

Connect with us

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu

Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter.

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