Matteo Caleo from the Italian National Research Council's Institute of Neuroscience and his team tested the active ingredient botulism - the toxin commonly used to treat muscular disorders and in cosmetic procedures, in rats. They injected the rats in their whisker muscles.
After 72 hours of the injection, researchers found the toxin in the brain of the rats.
Matteo Caleo, the lead author of the study stated that this is a great cause for concern. The researchers stated that the toxin managed to move from one end to the brain to another, breaking down proteins and causing damage. The toxin also caused brain cell activity to be disturbed where the Botox injection took place.
Botox is a highly-popular treatment which was originally released back in 1989. It is an anti-wrinkle treatment which lasts three to four months.
The study was published in the April 2 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
