Researchers Study a Link Between Alzheimer's Signs in Dolphins and Humans

The University of Miami's Deborah Mash recently led a research team that discovered a connection between Alzheimer's symptoms in dolphins and humans, suggesting certain types of seafood consumed by both species is exposing them to a toxin, reports Being Patient . She said the toxin "comes from blue-green algae, and it is concentrated in the bottom feeders like shrimp or lobsters because bottom feeders eat algae, and dolphins eat the bottom feeders." Mash added that more amyloid plaques were present in dolphins' brains. "I cannot say the plaques are identical to the human brain, but we believe that they are," she noted. "We also believe the pathology of the human and dolphin brain are similar." Mash said the key takeaway of the study is the importance of eating healthy, and to consume bottom-feeding marine animals sparingly.