SAEDNEWS: Australian Researchers Find Keeping Cats Increases Risk of Schizophrenia by 2.24 Times
According to Saed News’ Society Desk, citing Hamshahri Online, the British newspaper The Sun reported that Dr. John McGrath from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research in Australia stated: “We have found a connection between cat ownership and an increased likelihood of schizophrenia. In fact, after adjusting for quantitative variables, we observed that people in contact with cats have almost twice the risk of developing schizophrenia.”
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health disorder that, according to official statistics in the UK, affects more than 685,000 people. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts and speech, loss of interest in daily activities, and a tendency to withdraw from others.
While scientists are uncertain about the exact cause of schizophrenia, they believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to its development.
Previous studies have suggested that a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii may be responsible for this association. This parasite has been linked to personality changes, psychotic symptoms, and certain neurological disorders. Typically harmless, it can be transmitted through undercooked meat, contaminated water, or contact with infected animals, including cats.
The new study, published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin, investigated whether contact with cats could increase the risk of this mental disorder. Researchers analyzed 17 studies conducted over the past 44 years across 11 countries, including the US and the UK. Their analysis revealed a “significant association” between cat contact and schizophrenia-related disorders.
McGrath emphasized the need for further high-quality studies using larger sample sizes to better understand cat ownership as a potential risk factor for mental health disorders.
