Research published in Communications Biology reveals molecular signatures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in bottlenose dolphins exposed to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Florida's Indian River Lagoon. A study analyzing brain tissue from 20 stranded dolphins over a nine-year period found elevated levels of neurotoxin 2,4-diaminobutyric acid during algal bloom seasons. The findings highlight how chronic exposure to algal neurotoxins might influence neurodegenerative processes and underscore dolphins as sentinel species for studying environmental impacts on neurological health.
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