Microplastics are the latest health threat. People across the world have been left worried after recent research found that the accumulation of microplastics in the human brain is equivalent to almost a spoonful. Moreover, there is empirical evidence that shows that these tiny plastic particles can breach the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances.

Measuring how much plastic is in the body is tricky, so there's a lot of uncertainty in that estimate. But the fact of the matter is that scientists have seen these really small, concerning particles in the body. The question is, how harmful are they, really?

What Are Microplastics?

What we know is that plastics are all around us. They're in our furniture, our food supply, our clothes, and cosmetics, and they don't really biodegrade. They just get smaller and smaller in the environment. Microplastics are what result from that. These particles are really tiny, less than five millimeters in size. Because they're so small, they can get everywhere—into our soil, air, into the food chain and into our bodies.

How Are Microplastics Getting Inside Our Bodies?

Researchers at the University of New Mexico found that the primary way these microplastics are getting into our bodies is through ingestion. One notable finding from the lab's research was that the concentration of microplastics in our brains is increasing over time. They showed that from 2016 to 2024, the concentration of microplastics in human brains increased by almost 50%. This increase coincides with the rise of plastic in our world over time. According to some estimates, plastic production doubles every 10 to 15 years.

Do People With Dementia Have Higher Concentration Of Microplastics In Thier Brain?

One particularly concerning finding was that the brains of people with dementia had even more microplastics in them. This could be because the brains of people with dementia are less able to clear out toxins and have a more porous blood-brain barrier. Scientists are trying to figure out causation. Researchers are also investigating the link between microplastics and other health issues like fertility issues, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease.

It will still take years before scientists can actually discover how harmful are microplastics are for our brains. Here are certain things you can do to prevent the threat:

• One is not drinking from plastic water bottles, especially when they've been out in the sun.
• Another is not heating food in plastic containers.
• A third is eating lower on the food chain, so you're not consuming fish and animals that have taken in a lot of microplastics.

Have you ever noticed both magnesium and manganese written on the food labels and wondered if they were the same thing? If yes, then you're not alone. Their similar names confuse many but these two essential minerals serve very different roles in the body, and mixing them up could lead to nutritional imbalances or even toxicity.

So What Differentiates Magnesium From Manganese?

The first key difference lies in how much of each your body needs. Magnesium is considered a macromineral, which implies that it is required in relatively large quantities—around 420 milligrams per day for adults. In contrast, manganese is a micromineral or trace mineral, with the recommended daily intake being just 2.3 milligrams. This stark contrast makes accurate dosing crucial, particularly when supplements are involved.

Overconsumption of this mineral can lead to toxicity or other health conditions. Magnesium plays a foundational role in over 300 enzyme systems in the body. These enzymes are involved in vital processes such as protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood sugar regulation, and blood pressure control. It is also essential for the formation of DNA, RNA, and glutathione, as well as for energy production and maintaining heart rhythm through the proper movement of potassium and calcium across cell membranes. Essentially, magnesium is deeply involved in nearly every system in the body.

How To Get These Nutrients?

To ensure you're getting enough magnesium, aim for a diet rich in fibre. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are excellent sources. Even certain types of water—like mineral or tap water—can contribute to your magnesium intake.

Manganese, though needed in much smaller amounts, is no less important. This trace mineral supports several key functions, acting as a cofactor for enzymes like manganese superoxide dismutase, arginase, and pyruvate carboxylase. It plays a role in metabolising amino acids, cholesterol, carbohydrates, and glucose. Additionally, manganese is involved in bone formation, immune responses, and reproductive health. Notably, it also helps with blood clotting when working in tandem with vitamin K.

Word Of Caution: Some Food Inhibit Manganese Absorption

While both minerals are vital, they are not interchangeable. Taking the wrong supplement or misjudging your dietary needs may mean missing out on the specific health benefits each mineral provides—or worse, consuming a toxic dose.

As with most nutrients, it is best to meet your mineral needs through a varied and balanced diet. Supplements can help in cases of deficiency, but should be used with caution and ideally under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the famed 1930s New York Yankees player, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that continues to challenge scientists and impact thousands of lives each year. May is recognized as ALS Awareness Month, offering an opportunity to raise awareness, deepen public understanding, and support ongoing research and care.

What is ALS?

ALS targets motor neurons—nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for voluntary muscle movement. When these neurons degenerate and die, the brain can no longer communicate with muscles, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually respiratory failure. Most individuals with ALS retain their cognitive function, but lose the ability to walk, speak, eat, and breathe without assistance. The disease progresses over time, with most patients surviving between two to five years following diagnosis.

ALS presents in unique ways from person to person. It can begin in the limbs (limb-onset) or in muscles related to speaking and swallowing (bulbar-onset). While no cure currently exists, treatment advancements have offered hope for improved quality of life and extended survival.

Who is Affected by ALS?

ALS can affect anyone, though it is most commonly diagnosed between ages 40 and 70. According to the CDC, around 5,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States, with about 30,000 people living with the disease at any given time.

There are two major types of ALS:

Sporadic ALS: This is the most common form, accounting for 90% of cases. Though it appears without family history, a portion of cases may involve genetic mutations.

Familial ALS: Representing about 5% to 10% of cases, this inherited form results from specific genetic changes.

Certain groups are at higher risk. Military veterans and firefighters are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS—potentially due to environmental exposures, physical trauma, or toxins encountered during service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-connected condition, entitling veterans to specialized care and benefits.

Recognizing Symptoms

Symptoms of ALS can vary widely but often begin with muscle weakness, cramps, twitching, or difficulty with speech or swallowing. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience:

• Spasticity and exaggerated reflexes
• Muscle atrophy, particularly in the hands and legs
• Bulbar symptoms like difficulty speaking (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia)
• Emotional lability (pseudobulbar affect)
• Breathing difficulties

While ALS primarily affects motor function, cognitive or behavioral changes occur in up to 50% of patients. Around 10% to 15% may develop frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Causes and Diagnosis

Though the exact cause of ALS remains unknown, genetic factors play a key role in some cases. Mutations in genes such as SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TARDBP are linked to the disease. Environmental triggers—like toxin exposure, viral infections, and intense physical activity—are also being studied.

ALS is diagnosed by ruling out other conditions through clinical evaluation, EMG tests, genetic screening, and imaging such as MRI. Early diagnosis is essential to access therapies and plan care.

There is no cure for ALS yet, but treatments like riluzole, edaravone, and tofersen (for those with SOD1 mutations) can slow progression. Promising research areas include gene therapy, RNA-targeted treatments, biomarkers like Neurofilament Light Chain, and artificial intelligence for diagnosis and personalized care.

Washroom visits do not raise big alarms for people, sometimes it may feel like you are urinating a lot or not urinating enough. However, frequent bathroom visits can be a big issue. While you may believe that your bathroom visits have been caused by too much fluid intake, it could be due to your high blood sugar levels. According to Mayo clinic, if you are having symptoms like being very thirsty, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision and unexpected weight loss can be a sign of diabetes.

Testing for diabetes is also important for anyone experiencing early symptoms of the condition. However, these symptoms can be subtle and develop gradually, meaning people may have type 2 diabetes for several years before receiving a diagnosis.

Many individuals live with diabetes without realizing it. Because of this, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends routine diabetes screening for most adults starting at age 35. For those who are overweight and have additional risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, the ADA advises earlier screening.

How Frequent Urination Is A Sign Of High Blood Sugar

The Mayo Clinic explains that experiencing greater thirst and needing to urinate more often are common indicators of diabetes. In individuals with diabetes, excess blood sugar, also known as glucose, builds up in the bloodstream. This forces the kidneys to work harder to filter and absorb the extra glucose.

When the kidneys can't keep up with this overload, the excess sugar is excreted into the urine. This process draws fluids from the body's tissues, leading to dehydration and a sensation of intense thirst. Consequently, drinking more fluids to satisfy this thirst results in even more frequent urination.

How Your Body Reacts To Excess Insulin

Diabetes.co.uk explains that normally, the kidneys can filter and reabsorb glucose from the blood. Frequent urination due to high blood sugar levels is also known as polyuria. It is a key indicator of diabetes mellitus, which is a condition that affects kidneys and hormones that interact with them. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, impairing its ability to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body may develop insulin resistance, where it no longer responds effectively to insulin, causing blood glucose levels to rise.

Normally, the kidneys filter blood to produce urine and reabsorb all the sugar, returning it to the bloodstream. However, in diabetes, blood sugar levels are abnormally high. The kidneys can't reabsorb all this sugar, so some of the excess glucose ends up in the urine, drawing extra water along with it. This leads to increased urine production.

Polyuria can be a symptom of undiagnosed diabetes. It can also occur in people already diagnosed with diabetes if their blood glucose levels become too high. When blood sugar levels are excessively high, the body tries to get rid of the extra glucose through the kidneys. This process also causes the kidneys to filter out more water, resulting in the need to urinate more frequently. Keeping this in mind, if you are also experiencing frequent urges to urinate, reach out to a healthcare professional for help.