NEW DELHI: Scientists in Australia, after analysing 17 studies published over the past 44 years, have concluded that owning a cat could double the risk of developing schizophrenia, reported the New York Post.
The scientists analysed the studies held in 11 different countries, including the UK and the US, to conclude a potential link between cat exposure and schizophrenia-related disorders.
Schizophrenia is broadly defined as a mental illness that runs in the family lineage. The illness mostly affects an individual in late teenage or early adulthood. The symptom includes hearing voices and facing trouble in thinking clearly.
“Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors, according to The Post, wrote in their analysis, which has been published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
“We found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia,” a research team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research wrote.
According to the World Health Organisation, globally one in every 300 people suffers from schizophrenia. Though the disease is managed with medicines, the complete cure remains unknown.
However, the proposed study is not the first to link schizophrenia with cats. In 1995, a report highlighted that exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii could lead to schizophrenia symptoms.
It is believed that parasites can get into a person’s body through a cat’s bite or after contacting its bodily fluids or faeces. Contaminated water or undercooked meat can also be two of the ways for the parasites to enter an individual’s body.
It’s estimated that about 40 million people in the US may be infected with T. gondii, usually without any symptoms. However, the parasite can infiltrate the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters, reported the news outlet.
“Our review provides support for an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders,” wrote the authors.
“There is a need for more high-quality studies, based on large, representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a candidate risk-modifying factor for mental disorders,” they added.
The scientists analysed the studies held in 11 different countries, including the UK and the US, to conclude a potential link between cat exposure and schizophrenia-related disorders.
Schizophrenia is broadly defined as a mental illness that runs in the family lineage. The illness mostly affects an individual in late teenage or early adulthood. The symptom includes hearing voices and facing trouble in thinking clearly.
“Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors, according to The Post, wrote in their analysis, which has been published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
“We found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia,” a research team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research wrote.
According to the World Health Organisation, globally one in every 300 people suffers from schizophrenia. Though the disease is managed with medicines, the complete cure remains unknown.
However, the proposed study is not the first to link schizophrenia with cats. In 1995, a report highlighted that exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii could lead to schizophrenia symptoms.
It is believed that parasites can get into a person’s body through a cat’s bite or after contacting its bodily fluids or faeces. Contaminated water or undercooked meat can also be two of the ways for the parasites to enter an individual’s body.
It’s estimated that about 40 million people in the US may be infected with T. gondii, usually without any symptoms. However, the parasite can infiltrate the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters, reported the news outlet.
“Our review provides support for an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders,” wrote the authors.
“There is a need for more high-quality studies, based on large, representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a candidate risk-modifying factor for mental disorders,” they added.
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