Russell Blaylock

Last updated
Russell L. Blaylock
Born (1945-11-15) November 15, 1945 (age 78)
NationalityAmerican
Education Doctor of Medicine, fellowship in neurology
Alma mater LSU School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Occupation(s)Neurosurgeon (retired), writer, lecturer

Russell L. Blaylock (born November 15, 1945) is an author and a retired U.S. neurosurgeon.

Contents

Blaylock was a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In 2013 he was a visiting professor in the biology department at Belhaven College. [1]

Blaylock has endorsed views inconsistent with the scientific consensus, including that food additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are excitotoxic in normal doses. [2] [3]

Education and career

Blaylock completed his general surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. [4] He was licensed to practice Neurological Surgery in North Carolina between May 6, 1977, and December 15, 2006. [5] Along with Ludwig G. Kempe, Blaylock published a novel transcallosal approach to excising intraventricular meningiomas of the trigone. [6] [7] He is retired as a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and is currently a visiting professor in the biology department at Belhaven University, [1] a Christian university in Mississippi. [8] He is associated with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and was on the editorial board of their journal.[ when? ] [9]

Allegations of health dangers

Blaylock claims that numerous substances are toxic and dangerous at typical use levels even though scientific studies rate them safe at customary exposure levels. He has been quoted several times in media outlets regarding his position that MSG is toxic to the brain. [10] [11] [12] He also states that the widely used artificial sweetener aspartame is toxic [13] [14] and may be the cause of multiple sclerosis. [15] He has additionally cautioned against heavy use of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose). [16] These positions are not supported by scientific consensus or regulatory bodies, as extensive studies support the safety of aspartame, sucralose, and MSG. [2] [3] [17]

Views on politics

Blaylock has called the American medical system 'collectivist' and has suggested that health-care reform efforts under President Obama were masterminded by extragovernmental groups that wish to impose euthanasia. [18] He blamed the purported collectivism of American medicine for the retirement of his friend Miguel Faria. According to Blaylock, the former Soviet Union tried to spread collectivism by covertly introducing illegal drugs and various sexually transmitted diseases into the United States. [18] Schwarcz characterized these positions as "conspiracy theories." [18]

Views on COVID-19

Blaylock supports various COVID-19 conspiracy theories, writing that, "The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most manipulated infectious disease events in history, characterized by official lies in an unending stream led by government bureaucracies, medical associations, medical boards, the media, and international agencies" and that the COVID-19 vaccine is a "Dangerous, essentially untested experimental vaccine." He also refers in his writing to "The designers of this pandemic..." [19] In 2020, Blaylock baselessly claimed that wearing face masks helps SARS-CoV-2 enter the brain. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aspartame</span> Artificial non-saccharide sweetener

Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener 200 times sweeter than sucrose and is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. It is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide with brand names NutraSweet, Equal, and Canderel. Aspartame was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974, and then again in 1981, after approval was revoked in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurosurgery</span> Medical specialty of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system.

Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sucralose</span> Non-nutritive sweetener

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener and sugar substitute. As the majority of ingested sucralose is not metabolized by the body, it adds very little food energy. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. It is produced by chlorination of sucrose, selectively replacing three of the hydroxy groups—in the C1 and C6 positions of the fructose portion and the C4 position of the glucose portion—to give a 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxyfructose–4-chloro-4-deoxygalactose disaccharide. Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose, 3 times as sweet as both aspartame and acesulfame potassium, and 2 times as sweet as sodium saccharin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splenda</span> Brand of sugar substitute

Splenda is a global brand of sugar substitutes and reduced-calorie food products. While the company is known for its original formulation containing sucralose, it also manufactures items using natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit and allulose. It is owned by the American company Heartland Food Products Group. The high-intensity sweetener ingredient sucralose used in Splenda Original is manufactured by the British company Tate & Lyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar substitute</span> Sugarless food additive intended to provide a sweet taste

A sugar substitute is a food additive that provides a sweetness like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy than sugar-based sweeteners, making it a zero-calorie or low-calorie sweetener. Artificial sweeteners may be derived through manufacturing of plant extracts or processed by chemical synthesis. Sugar substitute products are commercially available in various forms, such as small pills, powders, and packets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monosodium glutamate</span> Chemical compound, flavor enhancer

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), also known as sodium glutamate, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese in this glutamic acid form. MSG is used in cooking as a flavor enhancer with a savory taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acesulfame potassium</span> Calorie-free sugar substitute

Acesulfame potassium, also known as acesulfame K or Ace K, is a synthetic calorie-free sugar substitute often marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the E number E950. It was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG. Acesulfame potassium is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide. It is a white crystalline powder with molecular formula C
4H
4KNO
4S and a molecular weight of 201.24 g/mol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diet soda</span> Type of sugar-free or artificially sweetened soda

Diet or light beverages are generally sugar-free, artificially sweetened beverages with few or no calories. They are marketed for diabetics and other people who want to reduce their sugar and/or caloric intake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meningioma</span> Tumor of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges)

Meningioma, also known as meningeal tumor, is typically a slow-growing tumor that forms from the meninges, the membranous layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms depend on the location and occur as a result of the tumor pressing on nearby tissue. Many cases never produce symptoms. Occasionally seizures, dementia, trouble talking, vision problems, one sided weakness, or loss of bladder control may occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excitotoxicity</span> Process that kills nerve cells

In excitotoxicity, nerve cells suffer damage or death when the levels of otherwise necessary and safe neurotransmitters such as glutamate become pathologically high, resulting in excessive stimulation of receptors. For example, when glutamate receptors such as the NMDA receptor or AMPA receptor encounter excessive levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, significant neuronal damage might ensue. Excess glutamate allows high levels of calcium ions (Ca2+) to enter the cell. Ca2+ influx into cells activates a number of enzymes, including phospholipases, endonucleases, and proteases such as calpain. These enzymes go on to damage cell structures such as components of the cytoskeleton, membrane, and DNA. In evolved, complex adaptive systems such as biological life it must be understood that mechanisms are rarely, if ever, simplistically direct. For example, NMDA in subtoxic amounts induces neuronal survival of otherwise toxic levels of glutamate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior clinoid process</span>

The anterior clinoid process is a posterior projection of the sphenoid bone at the junction of the medial end of either lesser wing of sphenoid bone with the body of sphenoid bone. The bilateral processes flank the sella turcica anteriorly.

The artificial sweetener aspartame has been the subject of several controversies since its initial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974. The FDA approval of aspartame was highly contested, beginning with suspicions of its involvement in brain cancer, alleging that the quality of the initial research supporting its safety was inadequate and flawed, and that conflicts of interest marred the 1981 approval of aspartame, previously evaluated by two FDA panels that concluded to keep the approval on hold before further investigation. In 1987, the U.S. Government Accountability Office concluded that the food additive approval process had been followed properly for aspartame. The irregularities fueled a conspiracy theory, which the "Nancy Markle" email hoax circulated, along with claims—counter to the weight of medical evidence—that numerous health conditions are caused by the consumption of aspartame in normal doses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebral shunt</span> Surgical implant to treat hydrocephalus

A cerebral shunt is a device permanently implanted inside the head and body to drain excess fluid away from the brain. They are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus, the swelling of the brain due to excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If left unchecked, the excess CSF can lead to an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP), which can cause intracranial hematoma, cerebral edema, crushed brain tissue or herniation. The drainage provided by a shunt can alleviate or prevent these problems in patients with hydrocephalus or related diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glutamate flavoring</span> Generic name for flavor-enhancing compounds based on glutamic acid and its salts

Glutamate flavoring is the generic name for flavor-enhancing compounds based on glutamic acid and its salts (glutamates). These compounds provide an umami (savory) taste to food.

John Olney was a medical doctor and a professor of psychiatry, pathology, and immunology at the Washington University School of Medicine. He is known for his work on brain damage. He coined the term excitotoxicity in his 1969 paper published in Science. Olney's lesions are named after him. In 1996 he was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He had campaigned for greater regulation of monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartame and other excitotoxins for over twenty years. He died at his residence on April 14, 2015 at the age of 83.

Ludwig G. Kempe was an American neurosurgeon, author and illustrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saleem Abdulrauf</span> American neurosurgeon

Saleem Abdulrauf is an American physician specializing in neurosurgery in Washington, DC, who has helped develop high-flow brain bypass surgery, a less invasive procedure for treating intracranial aneurysm than methods used previously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James I. Ausman</span> American neurosurgeon

James Ivan Ausman is an American neurosurgeon, science editor, television broadcaster, medical entrepreneur, and public advocate on health-care reform. He currently is professor of neurosurgery at the University of California, Los Angeles and editor-in-chief of Surgical Neurology International.

The Dextroscope is a medical equipment system that creates a virtual reality (VR) environment in which surgeons can plan neurosurgical and other surgical procedures.

Joseph Maroon is an American neurosurgeon, author, and triathlon athlete. He is the professor and vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is the current medical director of WWE. He is particularly known for his work studying concussions and concussion prevention as well as his hypothesis on the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

References

  1. 1 2 "Russell Blaylock Seminar Series at Belhaven College" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  2. 1 2 Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, et al. (2007). "Aspartame: a safety evaluation based on current use levels, regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies". Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 37 (8): 629–727. doi:10.1080/10408440701516184. PMID   17828671. S2CID   7316097.
  3. 1 2 Walker R, Lupien JR (2000). "The safety evaluation of monosodium glutamate". Journal of Nutrition. 130 (4S): 1049S–52S. doi: 10.1093/jn/130.4.1049S . PMID   10736380.
  4. ↑ "Russell Blaylock's website". Russellblaylockmd.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  5. ↑ "North Carolina Medical Board". Docboard.org. Archived from the original on 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  6. ↑ Jun, Cecil L.; Nutik, Stephen L. (March 1985). "Surgical Approaches to Intraventricular Meningiomas of the Trigone". Neurosurgery. 16 (3): 416–420. doi:10.1227/00006123-198503000-00025. PMID   3982626.
  7. ↑ Kempe LG, Blaylock R (1976). "Lateral-trigonal intraventricular tumors. A new operative approach". Acta Neurochir (Wien). 35 (4): 233–42. doi:10.1007/bf01406119. PMID   998353. S2CID   31659187.
  8. ↑ "Belhaven University website". Belhaven.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  9. ↑ "An Irresistible Force?". aapsonline.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  10. ↑ A game of hide and seek. (hidden MSG in processed foods) originally printed in Vegetarian Times, September 01, 1998 AccessMyLibrary record.
  11. ↑ "Want full disclosure with that meal? St. Petersburg Times September 25, 2005". Sptimes.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  12. ↑ Pratt, Steven (1994-07-28). "FLAVOR-ENHANCING MSG IS EVERYWHERE, BUT IS IT HARMLESS OR AN "EXCITOTOXIN"? Chicago Tribune July 28, 1994". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  13. ↑ "Sugar substitutes aren't always so healthy The Free Lance-Star September 10, 2001". Fredericksburg.com. 2001-10-09. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  14. ↑ "How sweet it isn't? Natural alternatives to sugar, minus the calories and carcinogens.(Eating Right) E Magazine November 01, 2003". Accessmylibrary.com. 2003-11-01. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  15. ↑ Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills Health Press, 1994. ISBN   0-929173-14-7
  16. ↑ Gogoi, Pallavi, edited by Beth Belton. How Far from Sugar Is Splenda? Archived 2010-01-11 at the Wayback Machine , BusinessWeek Online, McGraw Hill, February 2, 2005. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  17. ↑ Grice HC, Goldsmith LA (2000). "Sucralose--an overview of the toxicity data". Food Chem Toxicol. 38 (Suppl 2): S1–6. doi:10.1016/S0278-6915(00)00023-5. PMID   10882813.
  18. 1 2 3 Schwarcz, Joe (8 November 2009). "it's all a plot to anti-vaccination conspiracy nuts". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  19. ↑ Blaylock, Russell (22 April 2022). "COVID UPDATE: What is the truth?". Surgical Neurology International. 13: 167. doi:10.25259/SNI_150_2022. PMC   9062939 . PMID   35509555.
  20. ↑ Teoh, Flora (2020-05-19). "No evidence that using a face mask helps coronavirus enter the brain, contrary to claim by Russell Blaylock". Science Feedback . Retrieved 2024-09-11.
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