Study Reveals Lasting Effects of Common Herbicide on Brain Health

Conducted in mice and published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, this study reveals that glyphosate exposure leads to persistent brain inflammation and accelerates Alzheimer’s-like pathology, even after exposure ends. Glyphosate’s byproduct, aminomethylphosphonic acid, was found to accumulate in brain tissue, raising concern about its potential impact on human populations, particularly those living in agricultural areas or consuming residues in food.

The research highlights significant neurodegenerative effects, including memory impairment, increased inflammatory markers, and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to the chemical. Alarmingly, these effects persisted even after a six-month recovery period, during which exposure ceased. This suggests the herbicide has potential to cause lasting damage to the brain. The study also underscores how glyphosate exposure exacerbates hallmark Alzheimer’s disease features, such as Amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles, which disrupt neural function.

Given glyphosate’s widespread use and continued claims by government agencies that it is safe, these findings necessitate an urgent reevaluation of its long-term health risks. Echoing similar concerns expressed by other researchers, the study authors therefore call for more research assessing glyphosate’s effects on human brain health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as farm workers and residents of rural areas.

To learn more about the damaging effects of glyphosate, see this article on our website.