Faculty Collaboration Database

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functions in school-aged children. Parasitology 2015 Aug;142(9):1221-7

Date

05/21/2015

Pubmed ID

25990628

DOI

10.1017/S0031182015000505

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84937072984 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   32 Citations

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects one-third of the world population, but its association with cognitive functions in school-aged children is unclear. We examined the relationship between Toxoplasma seropositivity and neuropsychological tests scores (including math, reading, visuospatial reasoning and verbal memory) in 1755 school-aged children 12-16 years old who participated to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using multiple linear regressions adjusted for covariates. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 7·7% and seropositivity to the parasite was associated with lower reading skills (regression coefficient [β] = -5·86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -11·11, -0·61, P = 0·029) and memory capacities (β = -0·86, 95% CI: -1·58, -0·15, P = 0·017). The interaction between T. gondii seropositivity and vitamin E significantly correlated with memory scores. In subgroup analysis, Toxoplasma-associated memory impairment was worse in children with lower serum vitamin E concentrations (β = -1·61, 95% CI: -2·44, -0·77, P < 0·001) than in those with higher values (β = -0·12, 95% CI: -1·23, 0·99, P = 0·83). In conclusion, Toxoplasma seropositivity may be associated with reading and memory impairments in school-aged children. Serum vitamin E seems to modify the relationship between the parasitic infection and memory deficiency.

Author List

Mendy A, Vieira ER, Albatineh AN, Gasana J

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan
Child
Cognition
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Toxoplasma
Toxoplasmosis
United States