Cats Sigh! Teenagers' 'Cat Lovers' May Suffer Reading Decline Due to Parasites, Math Unaffected

Knews

2020-02-18 15:12

Cats are cute, but they are prone to carry parasites. Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite in the cat's intestine, is one of them. Humans are usually infected through raw meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, or when handling cat feces. Researchers say that 30% of the world's population carries this parasite, and the infection rate in some countries is as high as 70%.

This parasite, after infecting humans and animals, can change a person's sensation and personality. Previous studies have shown that mice infected with it will lose their instinctive fear of cats, and their behavior will become more reckless. This study confirms that Toxoplasma gondii may have a more serious impact on the brain than previously thought.

Researchers surveyed 1755 twelve to sixteen-year-olds with cats at home and analyzed their blood samples, finding that about 135 people were infected with Toxoplasma gondii from their cats. The results of the cognitive test showed that people with positive parasite detection had lower reading and memory scores, and lower scores on reading tests, but their mathematical and reasoning abilities were not affected.

Therefore, researchers believe that the parasite may have changed the dopamine levels in the brains of the infected individuals, this neurotransmitter plays an important role in learning, work, memory, and attention.

(Editor: Liu Qingyang)