Botox and empathy: Less is more

I am kind of stuck on this whole Botox-empathy thing. A recent study from researchers at Duke and UCLA implied that people who get Botox to attenuate their wrinkles also seem to attenuate their empathic ability. Somehow their inability to mimic others' facial expressions impairs the firing of their mirror neurons and they top feeling empathy. Wow!

But think of it -- Botulinum toxin, arguably one of the most potent poisons known to humans, is being used essentially recreationally as a drug, quite possibly an addictive one. Who thought this was a good idea? OK, don't answer that.

To be sure, the same toxin in a therapeutic preparation can help people with paralysis release painful contractures, and this is a wonderful advance. Just as morphine is a terrific pain reliever under the right circumstances. But used recreationally? Everyone is aware of the havoc it can wreak, both personally and societally. So, how did we justify allowing this most potent of all poisons to be injected into perfectly healthy (and beautiful, I might add) aging faces?

File this under "Go figure." Another opportunity for "less is more."