Scientists Link Vascular Disease and Microplastics to Dementia in Landmark Study
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – August 8, 2025 – A new study published today in The American journal of Pathology reveals a significant and often overlooked role of vascular disease and the presence of nano- and microplastics in the growth of dementia, potentially impacting diagnosis and treatment strategies for millions. Researchers at the University of New Mexico (UNM) have found widespread evidence of damage to small blood vessels in the brains of dementia patients, including those previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Led by Elaine L. Bearer, the research team meticulously examined brain tissue donated by New Mexicans who had died with dementia, utilizing specialized microscopy and staining techniques to identify vascular damage. The findings suggest that vascular disease may contribute to dementia in as many as half of Alzheimer’s cases in New Mexico.
“We suspect that in New Mexico maybe a half of our Alzheimer’s people also have vascular disease,” Bearer stated.
The study isn’t solely focused on vascular contributions. Bearer’s team also uncovered a concerning correlation between the presence of nano- and microplastics in the brain and the severity of dementia. higher quantities of these plastics were associated with increased inflammation.
“Nanoplastics in the brain represent a new player on the field of brain pathology,” Bearer explained. “All our current thinking about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias needs to be revised in light of this discovery.” She noted that demented individuals showed significantly more plastic presence in their brains compared to those without cognitive impairment, and that the amount appeared to correlate with the type and degree of dementia.
This research builds upon years of collaboration with Gary Rosenberg, MD, professor of Neurology and director of the UNM Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). The ADRC recently secured a five-year, $21.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2024, which supported Bearer’s work. Rosenberg has long emphasized the connection between vascular disease and dementia symptoms.
Bearer believes a more systematic approach to identifying and classifying different forms of vascular dementia is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy and accelerating the development of effective treatments. The NIH is considering forming a consensus group of leading neuropathologists to establish a new classification and scoring system for these conditions.
“Describing the pathological changes in this comprehensive way is really new,” Bearer said. “What I’m hoping will come out of this paper is working with other neuropathology ADRC cores across the country to develop consensus guidelines for classifying vascular changes and the impact of nano- and microplastics on the brain.”
The study, titled “Exploring Vascular Contributions to Cognitive impairment,” is available in The American Journal of pathology (DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2025.07.007).
