Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma may increase the risk of systemic inflammation and frailty. This has been shown by a published study. Gerontology Journals, Series A.
Scientists analyzed data from 601 people over the age of 65. Almost 70 percent of them were infected T. gondii – a single-celled parasite that humans usually catch from cats. The more antibodies a patient had to the parasite, the more likely he was to suffer from frailty. This condition is accompanied by involuntary weight loss and physical weakness.
Most people have toxoplasmosis without symptoms, except for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. The immune system can fight an acute infection, but the parasite often remains in the body, triggering the activation of cytokines, molecules that stimulate inflammation.
The study does not prove that Toxoplasma infection causes wasting. It is possible that thinness itself causes people to neglect hygiene, increasing the risk of infection. However, the scientists’ findings indicate that more research is needed. If the results are confirmed, they could be used to develop new approaches to prevent and treat frailty.
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