Can chemicals in cleaning products affect memory and thinking in older adults?

What's actually in it

Environmental phenols are a group of chemicals found in disinfectants, cleaning sprays, plastic food containers, and personal care products. Common ones include bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, benzophenone-3 (from sunscreen), and 2,4-dichlorophenol (from water chlorination and pesticides).

You absorb them through skin contact with cleaning products, eating from plastic containers, and breathing indoor air after spraying cleaners.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Health Perspect examined how phenol exposure affects cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. The researchers measured phenol metabolites in urine and tested participants on memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function.

Higher levels of BPA and triclosan were associated with lower scores on memory tests and processing speed. Benzophenone-3 exposure was linked to reduced attention. The effects were dose-dependent and remained after controlling for age, education, and other health factors.

The chemicals likely harm the brain through oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of thyroid hormones that the brain needs to function properly. Older brains are less able to repair this kind of damage, making the effects more noticeable with age.

Reduce your phenol exposure by switching to vinegar or hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners, storing food in glass instead of plastic, and choosing fragrance-free personal care products. These simple changes can lower the chemical burden on your brain over time.