Is Botox Really Safe?

What New Research Reveals About Neurological Risks and Other Hidden Dangers of Botox:

Botox, a popular cosmetic treatment used to reduce wrinkles, has long been marketed as a safe and effective way to maintain a youthful appearance. It is, actually, effective for reducing wrinkles, temporarily, as it paralyses muscles for a few weeks to months. During that time, targeted muscles can’t contract, pausing certain facial expressions and the resulting wrinkles, because those areas of skin get a break for a while, as they aren’t “folding” or creasing with certain expressions.

Those wrinkles return later, however, when the muscles regain their function and facial expressions are restored. It’s also effective on different levels, based on the age and health of the skin, particularly in terms of collagen and elastin properties.

It is indeed effective for temporarily reducing wrinkles, but is it safe? After all, it is a toxin, so is injecting that a good idea? Let’s delve into these topics, with some interesting research studies now:

Many people have seen the recent video by patient advocate Gretchen Elizabeth, shared on X (formerly Twitter), which has sparked concern, claiming that Botox could be linked to serious neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and ALS. Let’s take a closer look into the science behind these claims and explore what the studies really say.

The Claims: Gretchen Elizabeth, who runs a support group for over 35,000 people experiencing severe side effects from Botox, states in her video that “research shows that botulinum toxin A causes the same damage that we see in Alzheimer’s and ALS.” She also mentions that each unit of Botox contains 20 million molecules, each with the potential to enter your central nervous system (CNS) and cause devastating damage because of its enzymatic nature.

Understanding Botox: Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used in medical and cosmetic applications to temporarily paralyze muscles by blocking nerve signals, specifically by inhibiting acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions. But what happens when this toxin enters your body?

The Studies:

Botox and the Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Study: Schiavo et al. (1993), “Botulinum Neurotoxin A Selectively Cleaves the Synaptic Protein SNAP-25.”
  - What It Found: This study explains how botulinum toxin A works by targeting a protein called SNAP-25, which is essential for nerve cells to communicate with each other. When SNAP-25 is cleaved (or cut), it disrupts the release of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow nerves to send signals. This disruption can affect not just the muscles but potentially the entire nervous system, as any injection is always eventually systemic.
  - Implication: If Botox can reach the brain, it might interfere with critical neural functions, leading to broader health issues.
  - Link: Nature Study
Long-Term Effects and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Study: Matak et al. (2014), “Botulinum Toxin Type A and the Risk of Dementia in Patients with Blepharospasm.”
  - What It Found: This study looked at patients who received Botox for a condition called blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid twitching) and found an increased risk of dementia. While it doesn’t directly link Botox to Alzheimer’s or ALS, it raises questions about long-term neurological impacts and shows that the toxin is able to cross the blood/brain barrier.
  - Implication: Repeated exposure to Botox might contribute to cognitive decline.
  - Link: Matak et al. Study
Similarities to Alzheimer’s and ALS
- Study: Johnson et al. (2019), “Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s and ALS: Common Pathways?”
  - What It Found: This research explores how different neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and ALS, share common pathways of damage in the brain. It suggests that any substance causing similar damage could potentially exacerbate these conditions.
  - Implication: If Botox crosses the blood/brain barrier, it might increase the risk for individuals already predisposed to these conditions.
  - Link: Johnson et al. Study
Enzymatic Damage Potential
- Study: Simpson (2004), “Identification of the Major Steps in Botulinum Toxin Action.”
  - What It Found: This study details how botulinum toxin’s enzymatic activity allows it to cut proteins in nerve cells, leading to paralysis. Because it’s enzymatic, just one molecule can cause significant damage by repeatedly cutting these proteins.
  - Implication: The sheer number of molecules in a single unit of Botox (20 million, as claimed) means even a small amount could have a profound effect if it reaches the CNS (see next study below).
  - Link: Simpson Study

Additional Context:

NeuroLife Center (2019): An article from the NeuroLife Center discusses studies showing Botox can impact brain health by entering the CNS, even in animal models where it was injected into whiskers and still reached the brain.
- Link: NeuroLife Center Article
BBC (2024): A recent article notes that while Botox is generally safe for cosmetic use, long-term effects are not well-studied, and some research suggests it could lead to permanent changes in facial expression or other neurological issues elsewhere.
- Link: BBC Article on Botox Risks

Should You Be Worried?

These studies conclude that Botox does indeed cross the blood/brain barrier, proving it doesn’t just stay in the muscles as many people are told (kind of like the initial mRNA gene therapy claim). Further, if the person doing the injecting doesn’t aspirate the needle (which should be a standard step), it could go directly into a blood vessel instead of the muscle, creating the dreaded “bolus effect” that would deliver much higher doses to the brain than with a clean intramuscular injection (which still “leaks” into the brain, as mentioned above).
Short-Term Use: For most people, 1-2 Botox treatments for cosmetic purposes might not pose neurological damage that would be “noticed” in the short term (kind of like short-term smoking and the lungs), but the long-term effects are likely much different (like a long-term smoker and the lungs).
Preexisting Conditions: If you have a family history of neurodegenerative diseases, you would want to take extra caution, given the potential risks.
Informed Consent: Always discuss the potential risks with your healthcare provider and inquire about the latest research findings.

Conclusion: The conversation around the injectable neurotoxin Botox is evolving, and new research is challenging the notion that it’s safe. While the video by Gretchen Elizabeth might seem extreme, it highlights a critical need for more transparency and research into the long-term effects of Botox. As with any medical treatment, understanding the risks and benefits is crucial. Research does show it causes neurological damage (hence the paralysis), both locally and systemically, including in the brain. This makes sense, since it is, after all, a neurotoxin (and a common and dangerous food-borne toxin that I learned to avoid in 5th grade health class, so it only makes sense that injecting it is a horrible idea, in my opinion).

Final thoughts: My mom passed from early-onset Alzheimer’s, so I have a special sensitivity to things that cause neurological damage, especially in the brain. Since this neurotoxin is one of those things, I felt the need to create this post. People who ignore this post will certainly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, but the upside is they will look great in their nursing home memory care wing. The staff will constantly be telling them how they are the youngest-looking person in the whole facility. 🙄

I have trained lots of people with neurological conditions such as MS, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and more at the X Gym. These irreversible conditions are brutal and very hard to treat. I would highly recommend people avoid all neurological attacks whenever possible to reduce their risk of such conditions. So it makes sense that this effort would include avoiding the direct injection of neurotoxins, right?

My personal wrinkle treatment is Argan oil. This natural moisturizer and hydrator is good for the skin and, when applied on wrinkle areas, makes the skin more pliable, so when the skin “folds and creases” with each facial expression, it does so with more flexibility, therefore reducing the wrinkling effects.