09 December 2023 , 19:22
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A new bombshell study has suggested there is a link between owning a cat and developing schizophrenia.
Scientists in Australia analyzed 17 studies that have taken place over the last 44 years around 11 countries, including the US and the UK, to make the decision.
The report, which was published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin journal, said: “Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders. We found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness which often runs in families and can cause worrying symptoms such as hearing voices, and problems with thinking clearly. It's believed that it starts in a person's late teens, the New York Post reports.
Other symptoms include having delusions or false beliefs based on reality, and hallucinations of seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling things which aren't real.
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Around 24 million people suffer from schizophrenia around the world (Getty Images)Some people also have disorganized speech and behavior, a lack of emotion and withdrawal from others as well as suffering from paranoia or inflated self-worth.
It's thought the illness is found in one of every 300 people or about 24 million worldwide, figures from the World Health Organization confirm. There are a number of medicines and therapy people can take for the illness.
The suggestion of a link between people who own cats and schizophrenia was first proposed back in 1995, when a study suggested exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may be the cause.
It's believed the parasite enters a person’s body through a cat’s bite or contact with its bodily fluids or feces, or it can also be ingested through contaminated water or undercooked meat.
Studies suggest around 40 million people in the US alone may be infected by the parasite and don't show any symptoms, despite being able to infiltrate the nervous system and influence neurotransmitters.
It's thought a parasite linked to the cat may be a subtle link to the mental illness (Getty Images/Image Source)READ MORE:
In earlier studies, T. gondii had been linked to personality changes, the emergence of psychotic symptoms and some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia.
The parasite, however, has been proven to have other serious effects on human health, especially for pregnant women, who can pass the parasite through the placenta to the fetus, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The first study linking cats to schizophrenia was back in 1995 (Getty Images)The study authors noted that more research is needed before anyone can make any final interpretations, adding: "Our review provides support for an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders.
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“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.”