New study links glyphosate exposure to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease

A new study from Arizona State University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen),recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Neuroinflammation, has raised new concerns regarding glyphosate, the widely used and known herbicide. The study suggests that glyphosate may have significant and lasting negative effects on brain health, potentially accelerating the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.  

Historically, glyphosate use in the United States has surged since the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops in 1996. However, its impact on brain health has received limited attention. This new study builds upon previous findings that demonstrated glyphosate's ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which may heighten the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders.  

The researchers detected glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid, in brain tissue of mice, alongside elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Elevated TNF-α levels have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, leading researchers to investigate whether glyphosate exposure could exacerbate the progression of Alzheimer's.  

The researchers hypothesized that glyphosate exposure would induce neuroinflammation in control mice and exacerbate it in Alzheimer's model mice. They dosed both mouse groups with varying doses of glyphosate over a 13-week period, followed by a six-month recovery phase.  

The results revealed that aminomethylphosphonic acid remained detectable in the brains of both mouse groups even after the recovery period. Glyphosate-treated mice exhibited reduced survival rates, increased anxiety-like behavior in spatial navigation tasks, and significant increases in several biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's pathology, including amyloid-β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau proteins. Moreover, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines persisted in the brain tissue and blood plasma of the mice, indicating long-term effects of glyphosate exposure.  

This study is a new step in understanding the long-term consequences of glyphosate exposure on the brain. The findings suggest that increasing glyphosate use may be linked to heightened risks of neurodegenerative diseases, warranting further research into the herbicide's impact on human health.  

As glyphosate continues to be a prevalent agricultural chemical, the implications of this study underline the urgent need for continued exploration into its effects on brain health and the potential role it plays in diseases like Alzheimer's.    

Source:  

Journal of Neuroinflammation