In 2015, the movie Concussion, starring Will Smith, brought the issue of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the forefront. A recent study by a head researcher at MIT has discovered some surprising underlying issues associated with the long-term effects of TBIs – related to “Diminished Brain Resilience Syndrome” (DBRS).  But, what does Roundup – the popular weed killer – have to do with all of this?

Many health experts suggest that it could be that our brains are not as resilient as they used to be, and that environmental toxicity (from herbicides like, Roundup) is to blame.

The statistics about sports-related traumatic brain injury are alarming

A survey conducted with over 1,500 Americans parents found that 89% of them worry about the risks of blows to the head when playing sports.

Parents have a justifiable reason to be concerned.  Did you know that between 1.6 and 3.8 million sports-related concussions happen every year in the United States?

And, according to the Sports Medicine Research Center in Baltimore, Maryland, sports-related concussions have increased by close to 16% between 1998 and 2008. At the same time, emergency room visits for s TBIs in children and teens rose by over 60% between 2001 and 2009, even while participation in youth sports overall has gone down.

Thanks to Roundup: MIT study says our brains don’t heal as fast as they used to

Any brain injury should be taken seriously. That being said, our skulls and cerebral matter were built to withstand the occasional jostle; a healthy brain should be able to recover from an “uncomplicated blow” within 24 to 72 hours.

Yet a 2014 investigation conducted by MIT senior research scientist Stephanie Seneff, PhD and nutritional specialist Wendy Morey shed new light on how modern brains heal after TBIs. Their report, published in the journal Surgical Neurology International, claims that modern lifestyles, nutrient-deficient diets and environmental toxins may be the reasons why our brains are not as resilient as they used to be.

Nutritional deficiencies are one cause of ‘Diminished Brain Resilience Syndrome’

Poor soil quality and commercial processing make it difficult to obtain the right amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients directly from the food we eat. In addition, our reliance on the SAD (Standard American Diet) as well as higher stress make absorption mechanisms weak.

Here are a few vital brain nutrients that have reached epidemic deficiency levels worldwide:

Omega-3’s: Dozens of studies show that omega-3 fatty acids (especially Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA), are highly neuroprotective. Getting enough of them on a daily basis through grass fed meats and butter, wild fish, nuts, seeds, spirulina, avocados and healthy oils as well as in supplement form may save your life if you ever have a TBI.

When the brain is injured, it releases large amounts of glutamate – which is used for proper brain signaling. The right amount of glutamate is a good thing but too much can create inflammation. Omega-3’s have the ability to decrease glutamate toxicity and prevent further tissue damage.

Sulphur: Without adequate amounts of sulfur in the body, the detoxification of harmful brain-derived wastes cannot occur.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency raises the risk of brain infection.

Magnesium: Lower than normal levels of magnesium can raise the risk of seizure after a TBI.

Zinc: Deficiencies in zinc have been linked to Alzheimer’s.

Vitamin B’s: Not enough B vitamins can affect glutathione levels and create oxidative stress.

Not surprisingly, deficiencies in any one of the above can raise your risk of cancer as well!

Could Roundup be harming our ability to heal?

The MIT study also focuses on the ways gyphosate pesticides effect the brain, making them less resilient and more prone to disease after a TBI. Here are just some of the ways in which Roundup affects the brain:

• Depletes sulphates: Glyphosate exposure can deplete sulfate stores in neural tissues. According to the researchers, this can leave these tissues “especially vulnerable to jostling through sudden impact.”
• Creates gut imbalance: Gut imbalance is a well-known side effect of glyphosate exposure and GMO foods. By interfering with the sensitive balance of good and opportunistic flora in our digestive system, toxic byproducts such as formaldehyde can form and eventually breach the blood-brain barrier.
• Disturbs absorption of nutrients: Glyphosate can do this by interrupting B vitamin synthesis, which is vital for methylation. Glyphosate also disturbs glutathione synthesis. Glutathione is a major antioxidant for the brain.
• Liver weakening: Glyphosate gets in the way of “CYP” enzymes that are necessary for proper detoxification in the liver. These enzymes are also needed for vitamin D3 activation.
• Aluminum overload: Finally, glyphosate has been shown to increase the uptake of aluminum by possibly helping it to cross the blood-brain barrier. Any amount of aluminum in the brain will make it more difficult for concussions to heal and could lead to neurological damage.

The DBRS – Alzheimer’s – Cancer Connection

According to Morley and Seneff, our inability to quickly recover from TBIs is resulting in a “downward spiral of neurological demise.”  This spiral could potentially lead to Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression, cognitive decline and risk for other diseases, including cancer.

A 2012 investigation published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found a “positive correlation between TBI and the relatively short-term development of malignant neoplasms of the brain.”

Perhaps the biggest link between DBRS and cancer, however, is inflammation. According to the MIT study, one long-term result of TBI-instigated DBRS is cognitive degeneration in the form of Alzheimer’s Disease. At present, one in nine Americans suffer from AD (about 5 million Americans).

Note: According to the Alzheimer’s Association, that number is expected to balloon to 13.8 million by 2050.

While most traditional studies so far have concluded that there is an inverse interaction between Alzheimer’s and cancer, I am not so convinced. Both conditions are marked by inflammation and environments in the body and brain where opportunistic pathogens can flourish.

Couple this situation with the fact that concussive episodes on their own can result in severe hormonal disturbance which can escalate in someone with DBRS, and you could potentially have a recipe for higher risk of reproductive and endocrine-centered cancers in the long term.

Clear up toxic load and nutrient deficiencies for brain health and cancer prevention

Americans are on a slippery slope when it comes to brain health. According to a 2015 report, the U.S. ranks #2 in deaths from brain-related disorders amongst 21 industrialized countries.

Is it a coincidence that while concussive incidents continue to rise, so does the rate of Alzheimer’s Disease as well as other epigenetically-caused conditions like cancer?

What new science is also revealing, however, is that the brain, like the body, absolutely has the ability to self-repair. This is called neuroplasticity and it occurs every day in individuals who are taking the time to take care of their brains.

Even if a TBI never happens to you or your loved one, nourish your brain for long-term health and vital energy. Go 100% organic/non-GMO, clear up nutrient deficiencies and heavy metals, move your body, and, most of all, include sources of brain-healing omega-3 fats in your diet – every single day!