Vaccines, Depression and Neurodegeneration After Age 50

From a member of our international support group of women harmed by
breast implants:
www.BreastimplantAwareness.org/

As many of us silicone victims have discovered, we're dealing with
systemic inflammation - no wonder we get ill, anxious, and depressed -
that doctors think we're being overdramatic is frustrating, to say the
least. Here's some related information:

Vaccines, Depression and Neurodegeneration After Age 50

By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., CCN

It has been estimated that 14.8 million Americans suffer from major
depressive disorder and of this number 6 million are elderly. If we
include anxiety disorders, which commonly accompany depression, the
number jumps to 40 million adults. At a cost of $44 billon dollars a
year just for care of the seniors, this impacts the national budget as
well.

Depression later in life tends to last longer and be more severe than
at younger ages. It is also associated with a high rate of suicide.

Previously, it was thought that major depression was secondary to a
deficiency in certain neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly the
monoamines, which include serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
While alterations in these important mood-related neurotransmitters is
found with major depression, growing evidence indicates that the
primary culprit is low-grade, chronic brain inflammation.

In addition, we now know that inflammatory cytokines can lower
serotonin significantly and for long periods by a number of different
mechanisms.

MSG and Depression

Researchers have also discovered that most people with major
depressive disease (MDD) have higher levels of the neurotransmitter
glutamate in their spinal fluid (CSF) and blood plasma. This is the
same glutamate found as a food additive-for example, MSG (monosodium
glutamate), hydrolyzed proteins, calcium or sodium casienate, soy
protein isolate, vegetable protein concentrate or isolate, etc.

Much of the free glutamate in the brain of depressed people comes from
within, that is it escapes from special cells within the brain itself
(microglia and astrocytes). Free glutamate, that is, existing outside
the neurons, is very toxic to brain connections and brain cells
themselves -- mainly by a process called excitotoxicity.

This connection between high brain glutamate levels and major
depression was discovered quite by accident, when researchers observed
that the anesthetic drug ketamine could relieve depression for a
prolonged period. Ketamine is a powerful blocking drug for a class of
glutamate receptors (NMDA receptors).

For quite some time it was known that depression could cause a loss of
neurons in the hippocampus of the brain-the area most important for
recent memory (declarative memory or working memory), the form of
memory most affected in Alzheimer's disease.

This shrinkage of the brain usually occurred with long-term
depression, yet it was shown, using sophisticated testing, that even
without brain shrinkage, memory could be adversely affected. Some
antidepressants could not only reverse the memory loss but could
reverse the shrinkage as well.

The implication was that the elevated brain glutamate, via
excitotoxicity, was destroying brain connections and later killing
brain cells in the hippocampus and that the antidepressants were
lowering brain glutamate levels. Subsequent studies have confirmed
that drugs that block excitotoxicity also reduce depression and that
some antidepressants reduce brain glutamate levels.

The Link Between Elevated Brain Glutamate and Inflammation

A tremendous amount of research has now demonstrated the link between
chronic low-level brain inflammation, elevated brain glutamate levels
and major depression. We know that as we age, the level of
inflammatory immune cytokines increase (such as interleukin-1ß (IL-1),
IL-6 and TNF-a). That is, the level of inflammation in our body
increases, with high levels being seen at the extremes of life -- the
80s and 90s.

This progressive elevation in the body's inflammation increases our
risk of a number of inflammation-linked diseases, such as cancer,
arthritis, muscle weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory loss
and confusion. People with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease have
even higher levels of these inflammatory cytokines -- much higher.

When inflammatory chemicals are elevated in the brain it makes brain
cells more vulnerable to a number of toxins, many of which are in the
environment. One study demonstrated, using a series of sophisticated
techniques, that if brain cells were exposed to low levels of a
pesticide there was little toxicity seen and that if you exposed these
same brain cells to an immune stimulant alone, little damage occurred.

But if you first exposed the brain cells to the immune stimulant, the
same low dose of pesticide could destroy a great number of brain
cells.

The importance of this observation was that the vaccine made the brain
cells hypersensitive to the toxin so that even in concentrations that
normally would do not cause harm, could wiped out most of the neurons.
One of the strongest connections between an environmental toxin
(pesticides) and a neurological disorder is with Parkinson's disease.

The reason it is more common in the elderly is that they have the
highest levels of inflammatory cytokines. This also explains the high
incidence of Alzheimer's disease, which reaches incidences of 50%
after age 80.

The link to depression was also serendipitous

Doctors using immune cytokines to treat patients with cancer or
hepatitis found that one third of the patients developed major
depressive illness within days of the treatment and that it resolved
only when the treatment was terminated. Other studies, in which
inflammatory cytokine levels were measured in people with major
depressive illness, also found most had high levels of these
inflammatory chemicals.

To their surprise, they found that many of the antidepressant
medications commonly used lowered inflammatory cytokines levels and
that patients who failed to respond had the highest level of the
cytokines.

So, how is this linked to excitotoxicity?

Neuroscientists have known for some time that inflammatory cytokines
cause the brain to release higher levels of glutamate -- the more
intense the inflammation, the higher the brain glutamate level. The
highest levels are found in the prefrontal lobes and limbic system,
the areas most related to mood control. MSG also increases brain
inflammation.

Vaccination and Brain Inflammation

A great number of studies have shown that when you vaccinate an
animal, the body's inflammatory cytokines not only increase
dramatically, but so do the brain's inflammatory chemicals. The brain
has its own immune system that is intimately connected to the body's
immune system. The main immune cell in the brain is called a
microglia. Normally, these brain cells are lying throughout the brain
in a resting state (called ramified).

Once activated, they can move around, traveling between brain cells
like amoeba (called amoeboid microglia).

In the resting state, they release chemicals that support the growth
and protection of brain cells and their connections (dendrites and
synapses). But when activated, they secrete a number of very harmful
chemicals, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, complement,
free radicals, lipid peroxidation products, and two excitotoxins --
glutamate and quinolinic acid.

In essence, these brain immune cells are out to kill invaders, since
the body's immune system sent an emergency message that an invasion
had occurred. With most infections, this phase of activation last no
more than a few days to two weeks, during which time the immune system
successfully kills off the invaders.

Once that is accomplished, the immune system shuts down to allow
things to cool off and the brain to repair what damage was done by its
own immune system.

What researchers knew was that during this period of activation,
people generally feel bad and that what they experience closely
resembles depression -- a condition called "sickness behavior". Most
of us have experience this when suffering from a viral illness -- such
things as restlessness, irritability, a need to get away from people,
trouble sleeping, fatigue and difficulty thinking.

Studies have shown that there are two phases to this "sickness
behavior"; one in which we have the flu-like symptoms and a later
onset of depression-like symptoms that can last awhile. They have also
shown that all of these symptoms are due to high levels of
inflammatory cytokines in the brain, which come from activated
microglia.

A number of studies have also shown that after age 50, people have
exaggerated and prolonged "sickness behavior", much more so than
younger people. This is one of the reasons why many elderly hang onto
flu symptoms for months after exposure.

There is also another immune phenomenon that plays a major role in
vaccine-related brain injury. Researchers discovered that when you
vaccinate an animal, the brain microglia immune cells turn on
partially (called priming), that is, they are in a state of high
readiness. If the immune system is activated again soon after (days,
weeks to months), these microglia explode into action secreting levels
of their destructive chemicals far higher than normal. This
overreaction can be very destructive and make you feel very depressed.

Stimulating your immune system with a vaccine is far different than
contracting an infectious illness naturally. Vaccines are made of two
components -- the agent you wish to vaccinate against -- for example,
the measles virus; and an immune system booster called an immune
adjuvant.

These adjuvants are composed of such things as aluminum compounds,
MSG, lipid compounds and even mercury. Their job is to make the immune
system react as intensely as possible and for as long as possible.

Studies have shown that these adjuvants, from a single vaccine, can
cause immune overactivation for as long as two years. This means that
the brain microglia remain active as well, continuously pouring out
destructive chemicals. In fact, one study found that a single
injection of an immune activating substance could cause brain immune
overactivation for over a year. This is very destructive.

Flu Vaccines and an Expanding Vaccine Schedule for the Elderly

Public health authorities and physician societies are in an all out
campaign to have every elderly person vaccinated every year with the
flu vaccine as well as a growing number of newer vaccines. When I was
practicing neurosurgery, the hospitals had an automatic written order
on all older patients' charts mandating a flu vaccine, unless it was
countermanded by the physician, which I always did.

Now, they are giving the shots in malls, tents and every available
site they can muster. And worse still, using lies and scare tactics to
frighten the elderly into getting the shots (such as the bold lie that
36,000 elderly die of the flu every year).

As you age, your immune system, including that special immune system
in your brain, releases significantly more inflammatory immune
cytokines than when you were younger. This serves to prime the
microglia, as discussed. So, when you get your first flu shot your
microglia overreact and does so for a very long period -- perhaps
years.

Many elderly report that the flu shot gave them the flu. Proponents of
vaccines, retort with a condescending laugh; that it is impossible
because the flu vaccine contains killed flu viruses. In truth, what
these people are reporting is a prolonged, intense "sickness behavior"
response to the vaccine. To the body, it is worse than getting the
flu.

Remember, no one is recording the number of elderly who die after
getting the flu shot, especially if they die months later, which can
happen with sickness behavior, especially if they have a preexisting
chronic illness or are infirm.

The Shocking Truth

With the elderly already having increased inflammatory cytokine levels
both systemically and in their brain, stimulating these primed
microglia so that a chronic overstimulation of the brain's immune
system is triggered, will not only increase their risk of developing
one of the neurodegenerative diseases, but will also substantially
increase their risk of developing major depression. Remember, this
also increases their risk of suicide, and even homicide, dramatically.

Anxiety is a major problem with depression, and vaccinations will
greatly worsen the condition. In fact, vaccination, especially
multiple vaccinations, will maintain the brain in a state of
inflammation that will be self-perpetuating, because the excess
release of glutamate in the brain, as well as glutamate in the diet,
will further enhance microglial activation and excitotoxicity.

Those who are prone to developing one of the neurodegenerative
diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease will be
at a drastically increased risk as we have seen experimentally when
even animals exposed to subtoxic concentrations of environmental
toxins and vaccinated develop neurologic worsening.

Most people use pesticides in their home, and studies have shown that
the concentrations in homes are sufficient to trigger Parkinson's
disease in susceptible people. Vaccinations, as these studies have
shown, will greatly increase that risk. Most doctors are completely
unaware of this important research.

You must keep in mind that "health authorities" urge the elderly to
get the flu vaccine each and every year. This will keep the microglia
in a primed and even activated state continuously. Recently,
neurologists announced that the incidence of neurodegenerative disease
had been grossly underestimated and that neurological diseases of
aging were increasing at a frightening rate. They have no explanation.

Over the last three decades the number of elderly receiving yearly flu
vaccines has risen from 20% before 1980 to over 60% today.

If this were not depressing enough, now the public health authorities
and medical specialty societies are adding a whole new set of vaccines
for those above 50 years of age, including the pneumococcal and
meningiococcal vaccines. What is being completely ignored by the
promoters of these vaccines is the effect of multiple doses of immune
adjuvant that accompany each of these vaccines.

Let's say you see your doctor and he talks you into getting the flu
vaccine, the pneumococcal and meningiococcal vaccine all during the
same office visit. That way, he can save you extra office visits. What
your doctor ignores is that he is giving you three doses of powerful
immune adjuvant all in one sitting, which means that your body and
brain are assaulted by a massive dose of powerful immune activators,
which have been proven to activate the brain's immune system to
dangerous levels, even when given as a single dose.

Proof of this mechanism exists not only in animal studies, but in
humans as well.

Mercury and Aluminum

There are other ways that vaccines can cause havoc in the brain. Most
vaccines contain aluminum compounds. A multitude of studies have shown
that aluminum, especially if combined with fluoride, is a powerful
brain toxin and that it accumulates in the brain. With each vaccine
injection, a dose of aluminum is given. These yearly aluminum
inoculations accumulate not only at the site of the injection, but
travel to the brain, where it enters neurons and glial cells
(astrocytes and microglia).

A number of studies have shown that aluminum can activate microglia
and do so for long periods. This means that the aluminum in your
vaccination is priming your microglia to overreact. The next vacc