Researchers from the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research in Australia have conducted a study which found that being a cat owner can double the risk of developing schizophrenia, especially if you are a cat owner under age 25.
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), often found in domestic cats, has been linked to a broad range of direct and indirect physiological changes in the brain.
The researchers conducted an analysis of 17 studies published during the last 44 years, from 11 countries including the US and the UK.
“We found an association between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders,” explained psychiatrist John McGrath and fellow researchers, all from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, in their study published last December.
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