Chronic hip, knee, or shoulder pain often requires total joint replacement. That relieves the pain and restores mobility, but does it introduce other health risks?

Researchers led by a team from the Rush University Medical Center in the US wanted to follow up on previous studies reporting how particles from artificial joints could leach into the body, and in particular whether these particles could reach the brain – and potentially contribute to cognitive decline or even dementia.

The team’s results, published in Acta Biomaterialia, suggest that these particles can indeed make their way to the brain, as a result of friction or corrosion in the joint.