Does Toxoplasma gondii infection affect cognitive function? A case control study

Guenter, Wojciech; Bieliński, Maciej; Deptuła, Aleksander; Zalas‐Więcek, Patrycja; Piskunowicz, Małgorzata; Szwed, Krzysztof; Buciński, Adam; Gospodarek, Eugenia; Borkowska, Alina

doi:10.14411/fp.2012.014

Cited by 21 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This is consistent with previous reports looking at nonelderly and nonpsychiatric adults [2, 6] and children [38]. The potential impact of latent toxoplasmosis infection on NCI remains controversial, as not all studies have detected cognitive differences in antibody positive and negative individuals, particularly after adjusting for potential confounding factors [6, 39]. The current study adds to the literature in that we examined young adults without such confounding conditions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Latent toxoplasmosis is associated with neurocognitive impairment in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection

Ene

Marcotte

Umlauf

et al. 2016

Journal of Neuroimmunology

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We evaluated the impact of latent toxoplasmosis (LT) on neurocognitive (NC) and neurobehavioural functioning in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection, using a standardised NC test battery, self-reported Beck Depression Inventory, Frontal System Behaviour Scale, MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and risk-assessment battery. 194 young adults (median age 24 years, 48.2% males) with chronic HIV infection (HIV+) since childhood and 51 HIV seronegative (HIV-) participants were included. HIV+ individuals had good current immunological status (median CD4: 479 cells/μL) despite a low CD4 nadir (median: 93 cells/μL). LT (positive anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies) was present in one third of participants. The impairment rates in the HIV- with and without Toxo were not significantly different (p=0.17). However, we observed an increasing trend (p<0.001) in impairment rates with HIV and LT status: HIV-/LT- (6.1%); HIV-/LT+ (22%), HIV+/LT- (31%), HIV+/LT+ (49%). In a multivariable analysis using the entire study group there were main effects on cognition for HIV and also for LT. Within the HIV+ group LT was associated with worse performance globally (p=0.006), in memory (p=0.009), speed of information processing (p=0.01), verbal (p=0.02) and learning (p=0.02) domains. LT was not associated with depressive symptoms, frontal systems dysfunction or risk behaviors in any of the groups. HIV participants with lower Toxoplasma antibody concentration had worse NC performance, with higher GDS values (p=0.03) and worse learning (p=0.002), memory (p=0.006), speed of information processing (p=0.01) T scores. Latent Toxoplasmosis may contribute to NC impairment in young adults, including those with and without chronic HIV infection.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Latent toxoplasmosis is associated with neurocognitive impairment in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection

Ene

Marcotte

Umlauf

et al. 2016

Journal of Neuroimmunology

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“…While these findings are consistent with findings from several previous studies indicating worse cognitive function associated with Toxoplasma gondii [12-16, 18, 22, 29], they differ from other published studies [19][20][21] that did not find associations between Toxoplasma gondii and cognitive function. Several possible factors could account for these different findings,…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Infecting approximately one-third of the world's human population [6] and having a worldwide distribution [7], T. gondii can persist in the brain for the life of the host [8]. In addition to possibly influencing human behavior [8][9][10] and showing an association with schizophrenia [11], some [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] but not all [19][20][21] evidence suggests that T. gondii in humans is adversely associated with cognitive function. Moreover, the results of a recent meta-analysis showed an association between T. gondii and dementia [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity and cognitive function in adults

et al. 2020

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Infecting approximately one-third of the world's human population, Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with cognitive function. Here, we sought to further characterize the association between Toxoplasma gondii and cognitive function in a community sample of adults aged approximately 40 to70 years. Using adjusted linear regression models, we found associations of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity with worse reasoning (b =-.192, p < .05) and matrix pattern completion (b =-.681, p < .01), of higher anti-Toxoplasma gondii p22 antibody levels with worse reasoning (b =-.078, p < .01) and slower Trails (numeric) performance (b = 5.962, p < .05), of higher anti-Toxoplasma gondii sag1 levels with worse reasoning (b =-.081, p < .05) and worse matrix pattern completion (b =-.217, p < .05), and of higher mean of the anti-Toxoplasma gondii p22 and sag1 levels with worse reasoning (b =-.112, p < .05), slower Trails (numeric) performance (b = 9.195, p < .05), and worse matrix pattern completion (b =-.245, p < .05). Neither age nor educational attainment moderated associations between the measures of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity or serointensity. Sex, however, moderated the association between the sag1 titer and digit-symbol substitution and the association between the mean of the p22 and sag1 levels and digit-symbol substitution, and income moderated the association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and numeric memory and the association between the p22 level and symbol-digit substitution. Based on the available neuropsychological tasks in this study, Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity were associated with some aspects of poorer executive function in adults.

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“…Previous studies reports have been contradictory results, with some investigators reporting impaired function (Gajewski, Falkenstein, Hengstler, & Golka, 2014) , while others did not detect statistically significant effects (Guenter et al, 2012) & Kruszonet al 2014) , (J. Flegr et al, 2012) (Pearce, Kruszon-Moran, & Jones, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Hepatitis C virus antibody titers associated with cognitive dysfunction in an asymptomatic community-based sample

Ibrahim

Salah

Sayed

et al. 2016

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology

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Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with cognitive dysfunction in clinic-based studies. The risk could be attributed to factors such as antiviral medications, substance abuse or coincidental infection. Aim To evaluate cognitive function in relation to HCV antibody titers in a community-based sample of asymptomatic individuals at low risk for substance abuse. Methods Adults were ascertained from a community in Mansoura, Egypt, where HCV is endemic (n=258). Cognitive performance was evaluated using the Arabic version of the Penn computerized neurocognitive battery. Substance abuse and psychopathology were also assessed. Antibodies to HCV and Toxoplasma Gondii (TOX), a common protozoan that can affect cognition were estimated using serological IgG assays. Results The prevalence of HCV and TOX infection was 17.6% and 52.9%, respectively. HCV antibody titers were significantly associated with worse function in four cognitive tests for accuracy and three tests for speed, after adjusting for covariates (p<0.05, beta coefficients, 2.1-3.2). TOX antibody titers were associated with impaired accuracy in one test. Conclusions The association between HCV antibody titers and cognitive impairment is not mediated by antiviral treatment or substance abuse in this sample. Whether HCV has a causal role in the cognitive dysfunction should be investigated.

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Does Toxoplasma gondii infection affect cognitive function? A case control study

Cited by 21 publications

References 31 publications

Latent toxoplasmosis is associated with neurocognitive impairment in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection

Latent toxoplasmosis is associated with neurocognitive impairment in young adults with and without chronic HIV infection

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity and cognitive function in adults

Hepatitis C virus antibody titers associated with cognitive dysfunction in an asymptomatic community-based sample

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