{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change","title":"Think Thursday: Microplastics & Your Brain-Environmental Neuroscience","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":775,"description":"In this Think Thursday episode, Molly explores the growing field of environmental neuroscience and what new research is uncovering about microplastics and brain health. Microplastics are everywhere—from oceans and soil to food and even the air we breathe. While they have long been recognized as an environmental issue, scientists are now finding evidence that they may also influence how the brain functions and ages.\nMolly explains how microplastics can interact with the brain through inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted signaling. She shares a striking new study linking microplastic exposure in genetically vulnerable mice to Alzheimer’s-like changes, and she unpacks what this might mean for humans. Alongside the science, Molly offers practical strategies to reduce exposure and emphasizes that protecting your brain is about progress, not perfection.\nWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode\nWhat microplastics are and how they enter our bodies\nWhy researchers are concerned about their effects on the brain\nThe role of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted signaling in everyday symptoms like brain fog and mood changes\nHow environmental exposures may interact with genetic risk factors for dementia\nSeven practical steps you can take to reduce microplastic exposure in daily life\nKey Quote\n“Protecting your brain is never about one big thing. It is about many small things working together. Alcohol, sleep, stress, nutrition, and yes, even the environment, are all parts of the same ecosystem.”\n\nResources and References\nWashington Post (Sept 2025): Study links microplastics to Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in mice\nWorld Health Organization reports on microplastic exposure\nResearch on APOE4 and microplastic interactions in mouse models\nPrevious Think Thursday episodes: World Brain Day—5 Habits to Keep Your Brain SHARP, Chronic Stress and Your Memory","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/zu3PtA3XzNKb2qSH95OKvfAaoixqds182Hao41kpkws/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZjY5/NjVmY2Y2MGQ0NmMx/NGNiMzdiZGY0OTMz/OWQzMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}