Infectious Influences on the Brain- Encephalopathy and Toxoplasma Gondii

There are 4 categories that contribute to encephalopathy. Toxic, Traumatic, Metabolic, and Infectious are all known factors that can lead to any abnormal functioning or structure of the brain tissue, not to be confused with encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain.

Infectious causes can contribute to decreased blood perfusion that can lead to a host of mood, neurological and psychological symptoms. Often patients present with a long list of symptoms and medications to address irritability, brain fog, anxiety/mania, attention struggles, depression, insomnia, impaired cognitive function, and headaches. Rather than treating each individual symptom with Xanax, Ambien, Ritalin, Zoloft, Gabapentin, and Vicodin, perhaps it is best to treat the infection itself.

Many viruses, tickborne infections, parasites, and other bacteria can trigger encephalopathy; however, a parasite that usually falls below the radar has a strong correlation. Toxoplasma Gondii, a protozoan infection found in undercooked meat, cats and some small animals has infected more than 60 million people in the U.S. (CDC statistics). Additionally, Toxoplasma Gondii can be transmitted from mother to baby in utero and via blood transfusions. Toxoplasma carries a strong link to psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Studies show a strong link between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with an odds ratio of 2.7 for each disorder! Toxoplasma is also implicated in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disorders and in more rare cases, cancers, and cardiomyopathy.

Toxoplasma can create cysts in solid organ tissue, making it difficult to eradicate. Treatment includes a trio of antiparasitic and cyst busting agents to target the multiple forms of toxoplasma and to penetrate the blood brain barrier.

It is thought the correlation between toxoplasma and encephalopathy lies in the gut. Several studies show gluten sensitivity can affect the disease pathogenesis. Gluten sensitivities have an associated antibody response that triggers an immune response leading to leaky gut syndrome. This scenario contributes to migration of autoantibodies from the gut to the bloodstream crossing the blood brain barrier. This pathway often leads to encephalopathy.

Final words…don’t play in the cat’s litter box, cook your meat fully and take care of your gut!

References and Further Reading

Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Desmettre T. (2020). Toxoplasmosis and behavioural changes. Journal francais d'ophtalmologie, 43(3), e89–e93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfo.2020.01.001

 Parasitologica 57[2]: 105–113, 2010 ISSN 0015-5683 (print), ISSN 1803-6465 (online)