Having a cat at home can double the risk of schizophrenia

Australian scientists analyzed 17 studies published over the past 44 years in 11 countries around the world. According to their findings, having a cat at home may double the risk of schizophrenia-related illness.

Scientists first suggested that a house cat might be linked to the risk of schizophrenia due to the influence of a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii in 1995. And a new study has confirmed this theory, ScienceAlert writes.

Psychiatrist John McGrath and his colleagues at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research conducted a thorough review and analysis of all the research on the topic of cats being linked to human disease.

According to the scientists, Toxoplasma gondii is a mostly harmless parasite that can be transmitted through inadequately processed meat or contaminated water. The parasite can also pass to humans through the bite of an infected cat or its feces.

Experts estimate that about 40 million people in the U.S. may be infected, usually without any symptoms. Meanwhile, researchers continue to find more and more strange effects these infections can have.

Once in the human body, T. gondii can enter the CNS and affect neurotransmitters, scientists say. The parasite may also be linked to the onset of psychotic symptoms and some neurological disorders.

A new analysis of 17 studies found "a significant positive association between cats and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders," the scientists say.

"We found an association between a broad definition of cat ownership and an increased chance of developing schizophrenia-related disorders. That is, people who had contact with their pet pooches were about twice as likely to develop schizophrenia," noted psychiatrist John McGrath.

"There is a need for more high-quality studies based on large, representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a factor that may modify the risk of mental disorders," the team of scientists summarized.

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