Study Links Dolphin Strandings to Alzheimer\u2019s-Like Brain Disease Caused by Toxins
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A new study suggests that exposure to toxic compounds from cyanobacteria may cause Alzheimer\u2019s-like brain disease in dolphins, potentially explaining why some become disoriented and strand themselves on beaches, ScienceDaily reported. Researchers from several U.S. institutions, including the University of Miami and Brain Chemistry Labs in Wyoming, examined the brains of 20 bottlenose dolphins that had washed ashore along Florida\u2019s Indian River Lagoon. <\/p>\n
They discovered high concentrations of neurotoxic compounds\u2014particularly 2,4-Diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) and \u03b2-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)\u2014which are produced by cyanobacteria thriving in warm, nutrient-rich waters. Dolphins stranded during peak bloom seasons contained up to 2,900 times more toxins than others. <\/p>\n
The dolphin brains also showed the same pathological features found in humans with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, including amyloid plaques, tau protein tangles, and TDP-43 inclusions. Researchers identified more than 500 genes expressed in patterns associated with neurodegeneration. <\/p>\n
Experts warn that the increasing frequency of cyanobacterial blooms, driven by agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, and climate change, could pose broader ecological and human health risks. Since dolphins are considered environmental sentinels, scientists say the findings highlight possible links between toxic water exposure and neurological diseases in both marine life and humans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Study Links Dolphin Strandings to Alzheimer\u2019s-Like Brain Disease Caused by Toxins …………….. A new study suggests that exposure to toxic compounds from cyanobacteria may cause Alzheimer\u2019s-like brain disease in dolphins, potentially explaining why some become disoriented and strand themselves on beaches, ScienceDaily reported. Researchers from several U.S. institutions, including the University of Miami and Brain …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":135417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[9779],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-diet"],"yoast_head":"\n