November 10, 2025

@michaelokun

Are Dolphins teaching us something important about environmental exposures and Alzheimer’s? A transcriptome is the full set of RNA messages in a brain cell that can reveal which genes are turned 'on or off.' Wendy Noke Durden and colleagues described in their new paper that just dropped in Nature Communications Biology that dolphins living in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon showed Alzheimer’s disease signatures within their brain 'transcriptomes.' Key Points: - Dolphins exposed to harmful algal blooms had dramatically higher levels of the neurotoxin 2,4 DAB in their brains. - These dolphins showed 536 altered genes that were tied to disrupted GABA signaling, basement membrane changes and Alzheimer’s related pathways. - Dolphins had Alzheimer’s like pathology including amyloid deposits, tau changes, and increased AD related gene expression that tracked w/ toxin exposure and the bloom season. My take: Does environmental exposure impact neurodegenerative disease? You bet it does, and this study on dolphins is a good reminder for all of us about being thoughtful about our exposures. Here are 5 points that resonated w/ me: 1- The authors argue that climate change and warmer waters can intensify harmful algal blooms and may have an important impact on brain health in marine species. 2- Dolphins exposed to bloom season toxins showed changes that looked similar to Alzheimer’s biology. 3- This research suggests that environmental toxins may contribute to neurodegeneration. 4- Protecting our waterways and reducing nutrient pollution can support both wildlife and possibly community brain health. 5- Dolphin findings are an important reminder that environmental health and human brain health are deeply connected. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08796-0 #parkinson #alzheimer #michaelokun #fixelinstitute