Scientists suggest that cat owners may have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia
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Scientists suggest that having a cat at home can double the owner’s risk of developing schizophrenia.
This is reported by Science Alert with reference to a study published in the medical journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
A group of Australian scientists analyzed 17 studies published over the past 44 years in 11 countries, including the United States and Great Britain.
“We found a significant positive association between cat ownership and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders.
After adjusting for covariates, we found that people exposed to cats were approximately twice as likely to develop schizophrenia.” – noted the researchers.
| Cat owners may have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. Photo: Sonyachny/Depositphotos |
The idea that domestic cats may increase the chances of having this disease was first proposed in 1995. At that time, scientists believed that the cause could be the influence of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. However, there are no unequivocal conclusions regarding this assumption.
T. gondii is a parasite transmitted through undercooked meat or contaminated water. A bite from an infected cat or contact with its feces can also be a source of T. gondii. An estimated 40 million Americans are infected with this parasite but have no symptoms.
Once inside the human body, T. gondii can penetrate the central nervous system and affect neurotransmitters. Some scientists believe that this is how the parasite causes personality changes, the appearance of psychotic symptoms and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia.
Other studies have suggested that:
- being surrounded by cats in childhood can increase the likelihood of developing schizophrenia;
- the presence of cats is associated with higher scores on scales that measure traits associated with schizophrenia.
One of the analyzed studies traced the connection between the presence of a cat between the ages of 9 and 12 and the subsequent development of schizophrenia. However, in a more general age range – up to 13 years, no such regularity was found.
The experiment, conducted with the participation of 354 psychology students, did not reveal a connection between the presence of a cat and indicators of schizotypal disorder. However, those who were bitten by cats had higher rates.
Meanwhile, another study involving people with and without mental disorders found a link between cat bites and higher scores on tests measuring psychological distress. However, scientists suggest that the cause of this may be the bacterium Pasteurella multocida.
Australian scientists say the need to conduct more qualitative research for final conclusions. However, a certain connection between a domestic cat and the risk of schizophrenia in its owner can be traced.
We will remind you that the study showed that dog owners take more care of their pets than cat owners.
Read also: Fat cats are cute, but dangerous. How to understand that a pet is overweight
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