Our furballs never cease to surprise us: growing up alongside them would more than double our risk of developing schizophrenia! This is the conclusion of a study published this month. The cause: a parasite accustomed to the intestines of domestic cats.
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It’s proven: growing up with a cat more than doubles the chances of developing schizophrenia. The discovery was made by researchers from Queensland Center for Mental Health Research, at the end of a meta-analysis of 17 studies carried out in 11 countries, over a period of 44 years. The article, published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin, suggests that cohabitation with cats during childhood is associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing disorders linked to schizophrenia. A risk 2.24 times higher than in people who grew up without a cat and which lasts, according to the general consensus, throughout childhood without an age at risk having been identified.
Cause: a well-known parasite
The cause and effect is a parasite, well known to scientists under the name Toxoplasma gondii, and present in domestic cats. Although it is also transmitted through undercooked meat and contaminated water, it is usually transmitted via the eggs present in the feces of our cats. This parasite has long been associated with alterations of the central nervous system and brain function. Although T. gondii can remain in the human body for a lifetime, the immune system does its job so well that healthy people generally do not show any symptoms.
However, certain people are more exposed: pregnant women, for example. Thus, toxoplasmosis is, among other things, the leading cause of blindness, reduced vision and epileptic seizures in newborns worldwide. In addition to pregnant women, children would therefore also form a population at risk.
No need, however, to throw stones at your Mistigri: if cats are the favorite hosts of T. gondii, this is quite simply because their digestive system lacks the enzyme delta-6-desaturase which, in other mammals, serves as a biochemical barrier against this small parasite. No need to throw your cat outside either: scientists are calling for further, more in-depth research to understand the mechanisms at work in the phenomenon. In the meantime, scientists recommend strict hygiene for children living with a cat, the most important thing being keeping them away from the litter box and washing their hands regularly.
