MDLifespan Brain Health Webinar + TPE
- Environmental exposures are becoming part of the brain-health conversation as researchers examine air pollution, microplastics and other environmental substances
- Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human brain tissue, while separate research has identified associations between air pollution and Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers
- The AMBAR clinical trial investigated plasma exchange with albumin replacement in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease
- Emerging human research is measuring how environmental substances circulating in the bloodstream, including microplastics, change following Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
CHICAGO, Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — What do environmental toxins, the substances circulating in our blood and emerging research into cognitive health have to do with one another?
Researchers are examining environmental exposures as part of the broader brain-health picture. Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human brain tissue. Air pollution has been associated with Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) has been clinically studied in people with Alzheimer’s disease, while emerging research is measuring changes in circulating environmental substances following plasma exchange.
A new MDLifespan authority article, Environmental Toxins, Cognitive Decline and TPE: What the Research Says About Brain Health, examines where these areas of research intersect and the questions they are raising about environmental exposure, circulation and cognitive health.
The topic will be explored further during Removing Toxins. Reclaiming Brain Health: Brain Fog, Cognitive Decline and How TPE Works, a free live educational webinar hosted by MDLifespan on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET.
The event brings together Lyn Patrick, ND, an environmental medicine expert; Syed Asad, MD, a board-certified neurologist with more than 25 years of experience in neurological care; and Paul Savage, MD, founder and CEO of MDLifespan.
Register for the free Brain Health Webinar
Key Facts
- Environmental exposures are being studied in connection with brain health. Researchers are examining how environmental factors, including air pollution and microplastics, may intersect with neurological health and cognitive decline.
- Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human brain tissue. A 2025 Nature Medicine study detected micro- and nanoplastics in human brain, liver and kidney tissue, with substantially higher measured concentrations in brain tissue than in liver or kidney tissue.
- Air pollution has been associated with Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers. Research from Emory University examined residential exposure to ambient and traffic-related air pollution and identified associations with Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers measured in cerebrospinal fluid.
- Plasma exchange has been clinically studied in Alzheimer’s disease. The randomized phase 2b/3 AMBAR clinical trial investigated plasma exchange with albumin replacement in 347 randomized participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
- Researchers are measuring circulating environmental substances before and after TPE. A 2026 study published in the Journal of Clinical Apheresis reported reductions in circulating microplastic levels following Therapeutic Plasma Exchange.
Finding: Environmental Exposures Are Becoming Part of the Brain Health Conversation
Brain health is influenced by a wide range of factors, including age, genetics, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, sleep, lifestyle and the environment around us.
Researchers are increasingly examining environmental exposures as another part of that picture.
Research from Emory University has examined associations between residential exposure to ambient and traffic-related air pollution and Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers measured in cerebrospinal fluid. Researchers identified associations between certain measures of air-pollution exposure and Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers.
Scientists are also finding environmental substances within human brain tissue.
A 2025 study published in Nature Medicine analyzed human brain, liver and kidney tissue and detected micro- and nanoplastics in all three. Researchers found substantially higher measured concentrations in brain tissue than in liver or kidney tissue.
During the October 15 webinar, Patrick will examine what current research is revealing about environmental exposures, toxicants and their relationship to brain health.
Finding: Plasma Exchange Is Part of the Alzheimer’s Research Conversation
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange removes and replaces a patient’s plasma. During TPE, blood is separated into plasma and cellular components. The plasma is removed, the blood cells are retained, and an appropriate replacement fluid, commonly albumin, is used before the cellular components are returned to the patient.
This process allows substances circulating within plasma to be removed directly from the bloodstream.
One of the most significant investigations of plasma exchange in Alzheimer’s disease is the AMBAR study, a randomized phase 2b/3 clinical trial involving 347 randomized participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers investigated plasma exchange with albumin replacement across three active groups compared with a sham-control group.
The study reported a 52% reduction in decline on the ADCS-ADL functional endpoint and a 66% difference in decline on the ADAS-Cog cognitive endpoint. Among participants with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, researchers reported a 61% reduction in decline across the ADCS-ADL and ADAS-Cog measures.
Asad will bring a neurological perspective to the October discussion, helping place cognitive changes, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation and environmental health into a broader clinical context.
Finding: Researchers Are Measuring Environmental Substances Before and After TPE
Researchers are also examining what happens to environmental substances circulating in the bloodstream following Therapeutic Plasma Exchange.
A 2026 study published in the Journal of Clinical Apheresis evaluated 114 patients across 174 one-plasma-volume TPE procedures. Researchers measured circulating microplastics before and after TPE and reported reductions in circulating microplastic levels following plasma exchange.
The findings add another dimension to the environmental-health conversation: researchers are identifying environmental substances within the human body while also measuring how levels of certain substances circulating in plasma change following TPE.
MDLifespan uses Advanced Serial Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, or Advanced Serial TPE, within physician-directed protocols that combine a structured series of plasma exchanges with individualized medical evaluation, pre- and post-biomarker testing, environmental toxin assessment, nutritional support and exposure-reduction education.
Paul Savage, MD, founder and CEO of MDLifespan, said, “We’re seeing research ask increasingly specific questions about what environmental toxins are present in the body, how they may relate to brain health and what happens when toxins circulating in the plasma are removed. This webinar gives us an opportunity to look at those questions through environmental medicine, neurology and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange.”
During the webinar, Savage will discuss TPE, the AMBAR study, emerging research into circulating environmental substances and MDLifespan’s Advanced Serial TPE approach.
Questions and Answers About Environmental Toxins, Brain Health and TPE
Question: How are environmental toxins connected to brain health?
Answer: Researchers are examining relationships between environmental exposures and neurological health. Human studies have identified associations between certain environmental exposures and Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, while separate research has detected environmental substances including micro- and nanoplastics directly in human brain tissue.
Question: Have microplastics been found in the human brain?
Answer: Yes. Published human tissue research has detected micro- and nanoplastics in brain tissue. A 2025 Nature Medicine study found substantially higher measured concentrations in brain tissue than in liver or kidney samples.
Question: Has Therapeutic Plasma Exchange been studied in people with Alzheimer’s disease?
Answer: Yes. The AMBAR clinical trial investigated plasma exchange with albumin replacement in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and reported differences in functional and cognitive decline.
Question: Can Therapeutic Plasma Exchange remove microplastics?
Answer: Human research published in 2026 measured circulating microplastics before and after Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and reported reductions in circulating microplastic levels following plasma exchange.
Question: Why are researchers interested in TPE and environmental toxins?
Answer: TPE removes and replaces plasma, providing a direct mechanism for removing substances circulating within the bloodstream. Researchers are measuring specific environmental substances before and after plasma exchange to better understand changes in circulating environmental burden.
Question: What is Advanced Serial Therapeutic Plasma Exchange?
Answer: Advanced Serial Therapeutic Plasma Exchange is MDLifespan’s physician-directed approach combining a structured series of TPE sessions with individualized medical evaluation, pre- and post-biomarker testing, environmental toxin assessment, nutritional support and exposure-reduction education.
Ask the Experts: Removing Toxins. Reclaiming Brain Health.
MDLifespan’s free Removing Toxins. Reclaiming Brain Health: Brain Fog, Cognitive Decline and How TPE Works webinar will take place Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET.
The discussion will bring together three perspectives on the evolving brain-health conversation.
Lyn Patrick, ND, will examine environmental exposures, toxicants and their relationship to brain health.
Syed Asad, MD, will provide a neurological perspective on cognitive changes, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation and the broader factors that influence brain health.
Paul Savage, MD, will discuss Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, the AMBAR study, emerging research into circulating environmental substances and MDLifespan’s Advanced Serial TPE approach.
The panel will explore what research is revealing about environmental exposures and the brain, what scientists are learning from Alzheimer’s and plasma exchange research, and how TPE fits into the conversation around circulating environmental substances.
Participants will also have an opportunity to submit questions for a live audience Q&A.
Register for the free Brain Health Webinar
About MDLifespan
MDLifespan is a physician-led medical technology startup and certified Public Benefit Corporation delivering advanced detox and regenerative medicine solutions through Advanced Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE). Founded by Dr. Paul Savage, MDLifespan is the first nationwide medical group focused on removing environmental toxins and reversing chronic inflammation using clinically validated, personalized protocols.
Media Contact Info:
Jessica Rafaeil
[email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af1ddf74-bc4f-4729-94dd-391e5da078c0
Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Mango Bunch takes no editorial responsibility for the same.