Photo: 6381380 / iStock / Getty Images
FLORIDA - New research indicates that exposure to toxic algae may be linked to cognitive decline in dolphins, raising concerns about potential effects on humans.
Scientists from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute examined 20 bottlenose dolphins stranded in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon between 2010 and 2019, a period marked by frequent harmful algal blooms.
Researchers analyzed brain tissue from the dolphins and found elevated levels of the neurotoxin 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, known as 24DAB, in animals that had been exposed to algae.
The brain tissue showed changes similar to those observed in humans with Alzheimer’s disease, including β-amyloid plaques, tau protein tangles, and disruptions in inhibitory synapses.
Comparable alterations were observed in the dolphins’ blood-brain barriers.
Dr. David Davis, research associate professor of neurology, explained that while outward symptoms of cognitive decline in dolphins differ from humans, the brain tissue abnormalities suggest a connection between algal toxins and neurodegenerative changes.
Co-author Paul Alan Cox highlighted that other toxins, such as BMAA, have been associated with neurodegenerative symptoms in humans, indicating potential risks for people exposed to harmful algae.
Scientists stress that while more research is needed to determine the direct effects on humans, the study demonstrates a clear link between environmental toxins and neurological changes in marine mammals.