Spike Protein Found in Brain Arteries Months After mRNA Vaccination
Originally published: 2025-04-18
Brain Arteries Still Carrying Spike Protein? Yes, Months After Vaccination
A groundbreaking study just published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience (April 2025) delivers a sobering message about the long-term presence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in human brain tissue following mRNA vaccination. Researchers found the protein lodged in the cerebral arteries of stroke victims up to 17 months post-vaccination, raising major red flags about the safety profile of lipid nanoparticle delivery systems used in Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 shots.
“Spike protein expression was detected in 43.8% of vaccinated patients... up to 17 months post-vaccination.”
This isn’t fringe speculation. The study used rigorous methods—immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization—to confirm the presence of vaccine-derived spike protein (not virus-derived) in brain arteries of vaccinated individuals who experienced hemorrhagic strokes.
And it has significant implications not just for public health officials and vaccine manufacturers—but also for chiropractors.
Inflammation Without Infection: A Vascular Mystery
Though no evidence of active infection (no nucleocapsid protein) was found in any subject, inflammatory immune cellsincluding CD4+, CD8+, and CD68+ markers were observed around spike-positive vessels. This suggests that while clinical inflammation may not have been apparent, vascular immune activity was present—a warning sign for anyone performing spinal manipulations near vascular structures. If this is an active process in a chiropractic patient and the risk to the adjustment is not ruled out the chiropractor could be blamed should the situation worsen and a vascular event ensue.
"None of the cases showed nucleocapsid protein positivity, supporting the absence of active viral infection."
The spike protein was localized predominantly in the intima layer of cerebral arteries, reinforcing concerns that mRNA vaccine components may reach—and linger in—critical vascular regions, including those affecting the brainstem, cerebellum, and cervical spine blood supply.
Implications for Chiropractors: Risk Management Must Evolve
For chiropractors, this study isn’t just theoretical. It aligns with post-COVID risk management alerts issued by ChiroFutures Malpractice Insurance Program which has highlighted emerging vascular vulnerabilities in post-vaccinated and post-infected populations.
Chiropractors have already faced malpractice complaints involving post-adjustment strokes, and while causation has never been established, these cases are costly and reputation-damaging. This study gives additional biological plausibility to vascular fragility in some vaccinated individuals, particularly women, who were the only group in the study to express spike protein in cerebral arteries (P = 0.015).
“These findings raise significant concerns regarding the biodistribution of lipid nanoparticle-based vaccines and their long-term safety.”
What Chiropractors Must Do: Implement Pre-Adjustment Triage
In light of this data, chiropractors are strongly advised to triage patients for cardiovascular and neurological symptoms prior to care.
This doesn’t mean avoiding care—it means delivering care more safely, informed by the latest evidence. Triaging can include simple in-office assessments, updated intake forms, and in some cases, deferring adjustments pending clearance or referral.
"We are no longer in a pre-2020 world. The vascular health landscape has changed—and chiropractors must adapt accordingly."
— ChiroFutures Risk Management Bulletin, 2024
A Wake-Up Call for Regulators and Practitioners Alike
This study should serve as a catalyst for global replication studies, but in the meantime, chiropractic practitioners must integrate this information into their risk management protocols, informed consent procedures, and even patient education.
The presence of long-lived spike protein in the cerebral vasculature opens the door to new interpretations of adverse events and puts renewed pressure on professional associations to stop pretending nothing has changed.
Conclusion: Chiropractic Can Lead on This—If We Choose To
The chiropractic profession has always stood at the intersection of science and wellness. This study is yet another reminder that our responsibilities go beyond the adjustment—we are gatekeepers for spinal and neurological integrity. If mRNA technology can lodge spike protein in the cerebral arteries, chiropractors must stand ready—not just to care, but to care intelligently.
“Global replication studies are urgently required to validate these findings and ensure comprehensive safety evaluations of mRNA vaccines.”
Reference:
Ota N, Itani M, Aoki T, et al. Expression of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cerebral arteries: Implications for hemorrhagic stroke Post-mRNA vaccination. J Clin Neurosci. 2025 Apr 3;136:111223. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2025.111223. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40184822.
