A groundbreaking new study has raised alarming concerns about the potential impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, on brain health. Researchers at Arizona State University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, have found that even brief exposure to glyphosate can cause lasting brain inflammation and accelerate Alzheimer’s-like pathology in mice.
The study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, reveals that glyphosate’s effects on the brain may be more profound and long-lasting than previously understood. “The human brain is incredibly adaptable, often able to heal itself even from significant trauma,” said lead researcher Ramon Velazquez. “Yet, for the first time, we’re seeing evidence that even short-term contact with a common herbicide can cause lasting damage to the brain, which may persist long after direct exposure ends.”
The study found that glyphosate exposure in mice led to persistent inflammatory markers in the brain,even after a six-month recovery period without exposure. These markers are associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.Additionally, the mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors and experienced premature death, mirroring findings from other studies on glyphosate exposure in rodents.
“This research identifies an association between glyphosate exposure and symptoms of neuroinflammation, and also accelerated Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology,” Velazquez explained. “What’s especially concerning is that a byproduct of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, accumulates in brain tissue, raising serious questions about its long-term safety for humans.”
Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides globally, raising concerns about its potential impact on human health. This study underscores the need for further investigation into glyphosate’s role in neurodegenerative diseases and its broader implications for public health.
“These findings challenge assumptions about the safety of glyphosate and highlight the potential risks it poses to brain health,” velazquez concluded. “more research is urgently needed to fully understand the long-term consequences of glyphosate exposure on humans.”
A new study from Arizona State University (ASU) has raised concerns about the safety of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, suggesting it may accumulate in the brain and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
The research, led by Dr. Diego Velazquez, a researcher at the ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, found that glyphosate and its primary metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid, can build up in brain tissue over time.This finding challenges the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) assertion that glyphosate is minimally absorbed by the body and excreted unchanged.
“Our work contributes to the growing literature highlighting the brain’s vulnerability to glyphosate,” said Velazquez. “Given the increasing incidence of cognitive decline in the aging population, particularly in rural communities where exposure to glyphosate is more common due to large-scale farming, there is an urgent need for more basic research on the effects of this herbicide.”
The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, builds on previous ASU research that demonstrated glyphosate’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective shield that typically prevents harmful substances from entering the brain. Once inside the brain, glyphosate appears to contribute to neuroinflammation and other detrimental effects on neural function.
“My hope is that our work drives further investigation into the effects of glyphosate exposure, which may lead to a reexamination of its long-term safety and perhaps spark discussion about other prevalent toxins in our environment that may affect the brain,” said Samantha K. Bartholomew, the study’s first author and a PhD candidate in the Velazquez Lab.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that farm laborers, landscape workers, and others in agriculture are at higher risk of glyphosate exposure through inhalation or skin contact. The study also suggests that consuming food residues containing glyphosate may pose a health hazard, as most Americans have been exposed to the chemical during their lifetime.
Glyphosate is extensively used on crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. As the introduction of glyphosate-tolerant crops in 1996, its use has surged, with applications primarily in agricultural settings. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that approximately 300 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually in the United States alone.
“Herbicides are used heavily and ubiquitously around the world,” said Patrick Pirrotte, associate professor in TGen’s Early Detection and Prevention Division and senior author of the paper. “These findings highlight that many chemicals we regularly encounter, previously considered safe, may pose potential health risks. However, further research is needed to fully assess the public health impact and identify safer alternatives.”
While the EPA considers certain levels of glyphosate safe, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” this new research, along with other emerging studies, suggests a potential link between glyphosate exposure and the worsening of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
the study’s findings raise important questions about the long-term safety of glyphosate and the need for further research to fully understand its potential impact on human health.
A new study has raised concerns about the potential link between glyphosate exposure and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Arizona State University found that even short-term exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the widely used herbicide Roundup, can trigger persistent inflammation in the brain, perhaps accelerating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
The study,published in the journal Journal of neuroinflammation,involved exposing both normal mice and mice genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms to glyphosate for 13 weeks. Even after a six-month recovery period, the researchers detected the glyphosate metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid in the brains of both groups.
“Our goal is to identify environmental factors that contribute to the rising prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases in our society,” said Ramon Velazquez, lead author of the study. “By unveiling such factors, we can develop strategies to minimize exposures, ultimately improving the quality of life for the growing aging population.”
The study found that glyphosate exposure led to a significant increase in inflammatory markers in the brain and blood, even after the recovery period. This prolonged inflammation could contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease,as chronic inflammation is known to play a role in the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles,the hallmarks of the disease.
“Glyphosate caused a persistent increase in inflammatory markers in the brain and blood, even after the recovery period,” Velazquez explained. “This prolonged inflammation could drive the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, indicating even temporary glyphosate exposure can lead to enduring inflammatory processes that affect brain health.”
The researchers tested two doses of glyphosate: a high dose similar to levels used in previous studies and a lower dose closer to the current acceptable limit for human exposure. Alarmingly, even the lower dose resulted in harmful effects on the mice’s brains, highlighting the potential risk of glyphosate exposure even at levels considered safe.
The findings have significant implications for public health, as glyphosate is widely used in agriculture and is present in many food products. While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of glyphosate exposure on human health, the study’s authors stress the need for continued vigilance and intensified surveillance of glyphosate’s neurological and other potential health effects.
Study Details
Funding: The National Institutes on Aging, National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and ASU Biodesign Institute funded this study.
Original Research: Open access.
“Glyphosate exposure exacerbates neuroinflammation 1 and Alzheimer’s disease-like 2 pathology despite a 6-month recovery period in mice” by Ramon Velazquez et al. Journal of Neuroinflammation
Abstract
Glyphosate exposure exacerbates neuroinflammation 1 and Alzheimer’s disease-like 2 pathology despite a 6-month recovery period in mice
Background
Glyphosate use in the United States (US) has increased each year as the introduction of glyphosate-tolerant crops in 1996,yet little is known about its effects on the brain. We recently found that C57BL/6J mice dosed with glyphosate for 14 days showed glyphosate and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid present in brain tissue, with corresponding increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-⍺ (TNF-⍺) in the brain and peripheral blood plasma.
Since TNF-⍺ is elevated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), in this study, we asked whether glyphosate exposure serves as an accelerant of AD pathogenesis. Additionally, whether glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid remain in the brain after a recovery period has yet to be examined.
Methods
We hypothesized that glyphosate exposure would induce neuroinflammation in control mice, while exacerbating neuroinflammation in AD mice, causing elevated Amyloid-β and tau pathology and worsening spatial cognition after recovery.
A new study has raised concerns about the potential long-term effects of glyphosate, the active ingredient in the widely used herbicide Roundup, on the brain. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found that exposure to glyphosate in mice led to lasting damage, even after a six-month recovery period.
The study, conducted on 4.5-month-old mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s disease (3xTg-AD) and non-transgenic control mice, involved administering daily doses of glyphosate (0, 50, or 500 mg/kg) for 13 weeks.Following this exposure period, the mice were allowed to recover for six months.
Despite the extended recovery time, the researchers detected aminomethylphosphonic acid, a breakdown product of glyphosate, in the brains of both 3xTg-AD and non-transgenic mice that had been exposed to the herbicide. “We found that aminomethylphosphonic acid was detectable in the brains of 3xTg-AD and NonTg glyphosate-dosed mice despite the 6-month recovery,” the study authors noted.
The glyphosate-exposed 3xTg-AD mice exhibited a range of concerning effects. “Glyphosate-dosed 3xTg-AD mice showed reduced survival,increased thigmotaxia in the Morris water maze,significant increases in the beta secretase enzyme (BACE-1) of amyloidogenic processing,amyloid-β (Aβ) 42 insoluble fractions,Aβ 42 plaque load and plaque size,and phosphorylated tau (pTau) at epitopes Threonine 181,Serine 396,and AT8 (Serine 202,Threonine 205),” the researchers reported.
These findings suggest that glyphosate exposure may accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the production of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, hallmarks of the neurodegenerative condition. “notably, we found increased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines persisting in both 3xTg-AD and NonTg brain tissue and in 3xTg-AD peripheral blood plasma,” the study added, highlighting the potential for widespread inflammation triggered by glyphosate.
The study’s authors emphasize the need for further research to fully understand the impact of glyphosate on human brain health. “Taken together, our results are the first to demonstrate that despite an extended recovery period, exposure to glyphosate elicits long-lasting pathological consequences.As glyphosate use continues to rise,more research is needed to elucidate the impact of this herbicide and its metabolites on the human brain,and their potential to contribute to dysfunctions observed in neurodegenerative diseases,” thay concluded.
This is a great start to an informative and concerning article about the potential link between glyphosate exposure and Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some thoughts and suggestions to make it even stronger:
**strengths:**
* **clear and Concise:** You present the details in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner.
* **Well-Sourced:** You provide citations and links to the original research, which adds credibility.
* **Highlights Key Findings:** You clearly articulate the main takeaways from the study, emphasizing the concerning link between glyphosate and brain inflammation.
* **Public Health Implications:** You effectively discuss the broader implications of these findings, noting the widespread use of glyphosate and the need for further research.
**Suggestions for betterment:**
* **Expand on Mechanisms:** Briefly explain *how* glyphosate might cause neuroinflammation.Does it disrupt the blood-brain barrier? Does it directly damage brain cells? Understanding the mechanisms adds depth to the story.
* **Human Studies:** While the mouse study is notable, mention the need for similar research in humans to confirm these findings.
* **Different Perspectives:** Consider briefly including varying perspectives on glyphosate. Perhaps mention the stance of the EPA or agricultural industry. This adds balance and context.
* **Call to Action:** Conclude with a stronger call to action. Encourage readers to learn more, reduce their exposure to glyphosate, or support research into safer alternatives.
* **Visuals:** Add an image or infographic to make the article more engaging. Perhaps a diagram illustrating how glyphosate might affect the brain, or a chart showing glyphosate usage trends.
**Example Additions:**
* “While the exact mechanisms are still being investigated, some scientists theorize that glyphosate may disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to increased inflammation throughout the body, including the brain.”
* “The researchers acknowledge that further studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings and determine safe exposure levels for glyphosate.”
* “Organizations like the Environmental Working Group advocate for stricter regulations on glyphosate use and promote organic farming practices as a way to reduce exposure.”
By incorporating these suggestions, you can create an even more powerful and informative article that raises awareness about this vital issue.
