September 20, 2022

The toxoplasma parasite is able to affect the human brain,

The toxoplasma parasite is able to affect the human brain, leading the victim into a state of psychosis and provoking the development of schizophrenia. And the most interesting thing is that its main owners are cats.

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It turned out that the parasite of domestic cats toxoplasma, infecting their owners, manipulates the behavior of animals and even humans, controlling the levels of glutamate - the most important signaling molecule that brain cells exchange.

How does it work?

Toxoplasmosis probably leads, for unknown reasons, to the shutdown of the GLT-1 gene and the associated "cleaning system" of excess glutamate molecules in special cells surrounding neurons and protecting them from infections and damage (astrocytes).

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As a result, glutamate begins to accumulate in the brain, which can cause those changes in behavior that are associated with the presence of toxoplasma in the human body.

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