« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy  (Read 1443 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« on: February 09, 2012, 09:05:29 AM »
Quote
How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy

The parasite, a single-celled protozoan which is excreted by cats in their feces, is called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii or Toxo for short) and is the microbe that causes toxoplasmosis—the reason pregnant women are told to avoid cats’ litter boxes. Since the 1920s, doctors have recognized that a woman who becomes infected during pregnancy can transmit the disease to the fetus, in some cases resulting in severe brain damage or death. T. gondii is also a major threat to people with weakened immunity: in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, before good antiretroviral drugs were developed, it was to blame for the dementia that afflicted many patients at the disease’s end stage. Healthy children and adults, however, usually experience nothing worse than brief flu-like symptoms before quickly fighting off the protozoan, which thereafter lies dormant inside brain cells—or at least that’s the standard medical wisdom.

But if Flegr is right, the “latent” parasite may be quietly tweaking the connections between our neurons, changing our response to frightening situations, our trust in others, how outgoing we are, and even our preference for certain scents. And that’s not all. He also believes that the organism contributes to car crashes, suicides, and mental disorders such as schizophrenia. When you add up all the different ways it can harm us, says Flegr, “Toxoplasma might even kill as many people as malaria, or at least a million people a year.”
The Atlantic

Crazy cat lady: the science.
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline BlueStateSaint

  • Here I come to save the day, because I'm a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32553
  • Reputation: +1560/-191
  • RIP FDNY Lt. Rich Nappi d. 4/16/12
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2012, 11:43:13 AM »
Quote from: chris_ on February 09, 2012, 09:05:29 AM
The Atlantic

Crazy cat lady: the science.

So, then--how crazy is your cat making you? :tongue: :fuelfire: :whistling:
Logged
"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty." - Thomas Jefferson

"All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk!" -Ayn Rand
 
"Those that trust God with their safety must yet use proper means for their safety, otherwise they tempt Him, and do not trust Him.  God will provide, but so must we also." - Matthew Henry, Commentary on 2 Chronicles 32, from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

"These anti-gun fools are more dangerous to liberty than street criminals or foreign spies."--Theodore Haas, Dachau Survivor

Chase her.
Chase her even when she's yours.
That's the only way you'll be assured to never lose her.

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2012, 11:43:53 AM »
No more than usual.
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Rebel

  • MAGA
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16934
  • Reputation: +1384/-215
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2012, 12:06:29 PM »
Yet another reason they should either be eradicated or all deported to Egypt to fight off pending mummy invasions.  :stirpot:
Logged
NAMBLA is a left-wing organization.

Quote
There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site

Offline obumazombie

  • Siege engine to lib fortresses
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21814
  • Reputation: +1661/-578
  • Last of the great minorities
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2012, 06:16:40 PM »
Quote from: chris_ on February 09, 2012, 09:05:29 AM
The Atlantic

Crazy cat lady: the science.

Um, some attribution here ? Unless I'm way off base, I deserve at least a little credit.
Logged
There were only two options for gender. At last count there are at least 12, according to libs. By that standard, I'm a male lesbian.

Offline Chris_

  • Little Lebowski Urban Achiever
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 46845
  • Reputation: +2028/-266
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 06:25:13 PM »
Quote from: obumazombie on February 10, 2012, 06:16:40 PM
Um, some attribution here ? Unless I'm way off base, I deserve at least a little credit.
You have cats?

Can you tell me why mine is such a dumbass?
Logged
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline obumazombie

  • Siege engine to lib fortresses
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21814
  • Reputation: +1661/-578
  • Last of the great minorities
Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2012, 06:35:40 PM »
Quote from: chris_ on February 10, 2012, 06:25:13 PM
You have cats?

Can you tell me why mine is such a dumbass?

I think I beat you to it
Logged
There were only two options for gender. At last count there are at least 12, according to libs. By that standard, I'm a male lesbian.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »