It is a little unnerving to think that a parasite as ubiquitous as toxoplasma gondii may be affecting so many human brains.
“Research shows infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 per cent of the UK’s population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the brain.”
via Science Daily
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection found primarily in cats and thought to clinically affect humans that have been immunocompromised. Many of us have been infected but have no clinical symptoms and have antibodies against it.
There’ve been some studies showing evidence of toxoplasmosis among patients with mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. It’s thought that there are various contributors to the causes of schizophrenia.
When it comes to the science behind mental illness, we’ve come a long way since witches were burned.
Nevertheless, we still have a very long way to go. So much is still unknown.
