What is the 'mysterious brain disease' being investigated in New Brunswick? Leaked emails lead to 5,000% increase in searches and more health questions Canadians are asking

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Canadians and the internet are a digital paradise. They not only want to stay up to date with the latest news, but also want to dig deeper into headlines – especially when it comes to their health.

This week, internet searches for news about a “mysterious brain disease” reportedly affecting people in New Brunswick increased by more than 5,000 percent.

What “mysterious brain disease” is making headlines in New Brunswick?

In 2021, the provincial government began investigating a “marked atypical neurological syndrome” that reportedly caused 48 people to experience a variety of symptoms, including muscle spasms, visual hallucinations, salivation and the feeling of bugs crawling across their skin.

New Brunswick's health department closed the investigation in 2022, saying the patients “should never have been diagnosed with a neurological syndrome of unknown cause” and that there were “known neurological conditions” that explained their symptoms.

In 2023, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) sent two epidemiologists to the province after a Moncton neurologist claimed the number of cases had risen to 147 and that patients were “in the advanced stages of clinical deterioration.”

Now a Canadian microbiologist claimed he was prevented from studying the disease. Earlier this week The Guardian reported on the leaked emails of federal scientist Michael Coulthart, who claimed that the number of cases had increased.

“I just want to say that I am of the scientific opinion that something is really going on in [New Brunswick] this absolutely cannot be explained by the bias or personal agenda of any single neurologist,” The Guardian reported Coulthart. “Some cases may be best explained by the latter, but there are simply too many (now over 200).”

Coulthart reportedly told a PHAC member in October 2023 that he was “essentially cut off” from the investigation. The Guardian reported that Coulthart said in leaked emails that he believed the cause could be an “environmental exposure or combination of exposures” that “triggered and/or accelerated various neurodegenerative syndromes.”

How is Halsey's health?

On June 5, Halsey said via Instagram that she was “lucky to be alive” as she announced the upcoming release of her new album. In a follow-up post shared on Wednesday, the singer revealed that she had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, along with “a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder” in 2022.

The news led to a more than 5,000 percent increase in internet traffic to learn more about her health condition.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in various organs or organ systems. Symptoms may include skin rashes, joint pain or swelling, swelling in the hands and feet, fatigue, and low-grade fever.

About 70 percent of people with lupus have SLE. Although it is a chronic disease, symptoms may disappear at times. If left untreated, the inflammation can cause organ damage, seizures, memory problems, confusion, coronary heart disease, and more. Although the exact cause of lupus is unknown, women between the ages of 15 and 44 and members of certain ethnic groups are at higher risk for the disease.

Lymphoproliferative disorders cause uncontrollable production of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Although Halsey did not specify which type of lymphoproliferative disorder it is, common symptoms of this group of disorders include anemia, weakness, weight loss, excessive bleeding, bone pain, frequent infections, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged spleen or liver.

“Both are currently being treated or in remission; and both are likely to be with me for the rest of my life,” wrote the 29-year-old. “After a rocky start, I've slowly gotten everything under control with the help of amazing doctors. After two years, I'm feeling better and more grateful than ever to have music to rely on. I can't wait to get back where I belong: with all of you.”

When is Men's Health Month?

This week, there was a 2,300 percent increase in internet searches related to Men's Health Month. Every June, men are encouraged to take an active role in their health and learn more about conditions that disproportionately affect men.

According to McMaster University, men visit the doctor less often, which can significantly affect their chances of detecting heart disease, diabetes and prostate cancer at an early stage.

The Canadian Men's Health Foundation has found that about 80 percent of cases of premature heart disease and stroke are preventable through diet, lifestyle changes and regular visits to the doctor who can monitor any changes in your health. As men age, they may experience erectile dysfunction, which can be associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. It can also seriously affect mental health. By staying informed about symptoms and risk factors and discussing treatment options for disease, men can age as healthily as possible.

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