Chronic infection by Toxoplasma gondii and its relationship with Alzheimers disease

<p>Iris Gladys Zayas Martinez</p>

Chronic infection by Toxoplasma gondii and its relationship with Alzheimers disease

Iris Gladys Zayas Martinez

Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri (IPK), Cuba

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most widely distributed neurotropic pathogens in the world; approximately one third of the world population is infected with this parasite, the causative agent of Toxoplasmosis. Chronic infection was historically considered a latent stage and it was only associated with the pathogenesis in individuals with compromised immune system. However recent studies have shown that chronic infection with this pathogen causes neurophysiological changes, where three mechanisms are involved: the immune response, hormonal changes and neurotransmisores changes, all of which cause neuroinflammation. All this relates the parasite with the pathogenesis of dementia, especially those mechanisms that produce neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease; it is also the most common cause of demential syndrome. This conference is aimed at highlighting the main aspects that could relate to chronic T. gondii infection with AD. The role of T. gondii in AD currently remains a hotly debated topic, with multiple studies being carried out to try to link this parasite to Alzheimer's and determine whether the parasite constitutes a risk factor or can play a protective role in the appearance of the AD.