There is a mysterious brain disease in Canada

Research shows that the potential cluster of mysterious brain diseases affecting people in New Brunswick, Canada, may be larger than officially announced Published The Guardian earlier this week. Up to 150 people may have developed unexplained neurological symptoms in 2013, including cases where people became ill after close contact with another victim. But it is unclear whether local health officials will actually be involved in any of these cases, with the next report expected later this month.

First public announcement of the committee Produced In March 2021, a note from New Brunswick health officials was leaked to the press Sent For health workers in the area. The note warned that some people in the area may have symptoms such as dementia for no apparent reason, such as rapid weight loss, difficulty moving and hallucinations. Early research rejected possible explanations for Bryan’s disease, which can cause similar symptoms. In April, there were 48 cases, including nine deaths Officially approved May have been associated with the group since 2013, and patients tested negative for prions for no other apparent reason.

However, according to The Guardian, many more such cases have been unofficially documented by doctors. Citing several sources, The Guardian reports that there may be as many as 150 cases. In these nine cases, one person developed symptoms after close contact with another equally ill person, often taking care of them. What’s more, young people who rarely develop these types of neurological symptoms have been identified both within and outside the official board.

“I’m very worried about these cases because they are developing so fast,” he said. he said An unnamed employee of the Vitalite Health Network, one of the province’s two health officials, told The Guardian. “I care about them. We owe them some sort of explanation.”

Families, and some officials and experts, are said to be frustrated by the local government’s investigation into the group. The Vitalité staff said they volunteered to discuss other cases because of concerns about the growing number of younger patients and their rapidly declining symptoms. They are also concerned that this group is not limited to New Brunswick.

Cases between close contacts suggest a common environmental factor. There is some speculation by experts that ந-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a toxin produced by blue-green algae, may be to blame. Some Previous research Lobster, a popular crop food in the province, has been shown to carry high levels of BMAA. But attempts by federal scientists to examine the deceased’s brain for BMAA were not allowed by the New Brunswick government, even if families wanted to do the tests themselves.

Later this month, led by neurologists from across the province of New Brunswick, will release a report on the cluster, but not explicitly Participation The neurologist who first discovered these cases was Alier Murrero. In recent months, local authorities seem to be underestimating Murray’s role in studying the cases and questioning the group’s validity.

In October, a preliminary report from other neurologists investigated eight deaths Came to an end They are unrelated and may have been caused by other disorders that were misdiagnosed at the time. But the Guardian interview with other scientists They disagree With this conclusion, the relatively high number of these cases in the same area, combined with the younger age profile of many patients, does not make sense for no relevant reason.

If the next government report is as dubious as many fears, it seems unlikely that this will be the last word on this potential group.