Can endocrine disruptors influence neuroplasticity in the aging brain?
Open accessAbstract
Only within the last two decades has the adult mammalian brain been recognized for its ability to generate new nerve cells and other neural structures and in essence to rewire itself. Although hippocampal structures have received the greatest scrutiny, other sites, including the cerebral cortex, also display this potential. Such processes remain active in the aging brain, although to a lesser degree. Two of the factors known to induce neurogenesis are environmental enrichment and physical activity. Gonadal hormones, however, also play crucial roles. Androgens and estrogens are both required for the preservation of cognitive function during aging and apparently help counteract the risk of Alzheimer's disease. One overlooked threat to hormonal adequacy that requires close examination is the abundance of environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with gonadal function. They come in the form of estrogenic mimics, androgen mimics, anti-estrogens, anti-androgens, and in a variety of other guises. Because our brains are in continuous transition throughout the lifespan, responding both to environmental circumstances and to changing levels of gonadal steroids, endocrine-disrupting chemicals possess the potential to impair neurogenesis, and represent a hazard for the preservation of cognitive function during the later stages of the life cycle.
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Neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the CNS that enables neural circuits to adapt to activity and experience by modifying synaptic strength, connectivity, and structural organization.
“Neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the CNS that enables neural circuits to adapt to activity and experience by modifying synaptic strength, connectivity, and, in some contexts, structural organization (Nugent et al., 2023; Weiss, 2007; Zsarnovszky et al., 2024).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
BPA is a synthetic xenoestrogen that has been used in plastics and resin production for decades.
“The most prominent member of this group of substances is bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic xenoestrogen that has been used in plastics and resin production for decades (Weiss, 2007).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
Products such as baby bottles, inner coatings of food cans, microwave dishes, and dental sealants are important sources of human exposure to BPA.
“Products such as baby bottles, the inner coatings of food cans, microwave dishes and even dental sealants are important sources of human exposure (Weiss, 2011, 2007).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
The neurotoxicity of PCBs and dioxins is particularly critical during brain development.
“The neurotoxicity of PCBs and dioxins is particularly critical during brain development (Weiss, 2007).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
Xenoestrogenic effects on synaptic structure are dose-, context-, and region-dependent.
“In vivo, however, moderate BPA exposure reduced spine density and prevented estradiol-induced synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, indicating that xenoestrogenic effects on synaptic structure are dose-, context-, and region-dependent (Ogiue-Ikeda et al., 2008; Rodrigues et al., 2024; Weiss, 2007).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
In vivo, moderate BPA exposure reduced spine density and prevented estradiol-induced synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
“In vivo, however, moderate BPA exposure reduced spine density and prevented estradiol-induced synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, indicating that xenoestrogenic effects on synaptic structure are dose-, context-, and region-dependent (Ogiue-Ikeda et al., 2008; Rodrigues et al., 2024; Weiss, 2007).”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Weiss, 2007
Cites
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Andropause: is androgen replacement therapy indicated for the aging male?
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Juster, R.-P., Bizik, G., Picard, M., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Sindi, S., Trepanier, L., Marin, M.-F., Wan, N., Sekerovic, Z., Lord, C., et al. (2011) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579411000289 · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Mastrantonio, M., Bai, E., Uccelli, R., Cordiano, V., Screpanti, A., & Crosignani, P. (2018) · European Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx066 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Jocsak, G., Kiss, D. S., Alymbaeva, D., Diebald, A., Zsarnovszky, A., Heinzlmann, A., & Bartha, T. (2026) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2026.1821381 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Products such as baby bottles, the inner coatings of food cans, microwave dishes and even dental sealants are important sources of human exposure (Weiss, 2011, 2007).”
Influential
- Authors
- Weiss, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Weiss, Bernard
- ORCID
- Weiss, Bernard
- Venue
- NeuroToxicology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 938-950
- ISSN
- 0161-813X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2072817
- OpenAlex
- W1991751974
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- NeuroToxicology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES-01247, ES013247, R01ES013247, R21ES015509, P30ES001247)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Keywords
- endocrine disruptors, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, brain aging, gonadal hormones, estrogen, androgens, cognitive function, Alzheimer's disease, environmental enrichment, physical activity, antiestrogens, androgen receptor antagonists, hippocampus, cerebral cortex
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Brain, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Endocrine Disruptors
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