Dissociating direct and indirect effects: a theoretical framework of how latent toxoplasmosis affects cognitive profile across the lifespan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

About one-third of the world's population has latent toxoplasmosis, which is typically most prevalent in old age due to its lifelong persistence. Most infected people do not reveal clinically relevant symptoms, but T. gondii might trigger cognitive changes in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. As intact cognitive processes are essential for various achievements and successful aging, this review focuses on the cognitive profile associated with latent toxoplasmosis across the lifespan. It could be explained by a shift in balance between direct effects (increased dopamine synthesis) and indirect effects (neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation, which can decrease dopamine levels). Based thereon, we provide a possibly comprehensive framework of how T. gondii can differently affect cognitive performance across the lifespan (i.e., from increased catecholaminergic signaling in young age to decreased signaling in old age). We outline how future studies may inform our knowledge on the role of individual differences in response to T. gondii and how longitudinal studies can help trace the temporal dynamics in the shift of the balance between direct and indirect effects.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-128
Number of pages10
JournalNeurobiology of aging
Volume102
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33765425
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952394

Keywords

Keywords

  • Cognition, Dopamine, Inflammatory markers, lifespan, T. gondii