title: Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functions in school-aged children.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects one-third of the world population, but its association with cognitive functions in school-aged children is unclear. We examined the relationship between Toxoplasma seropositivity and neuropsychological tests scores (including math, reading, visuospatial reasoning and verbal memory) in 1755 school-aged children 12-16 years old who participated to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using multiple linear regressions adjusted for covariates. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 7·7% and seropositivity to the parasite was associated with lower reading skills (regression coefficient [β] = -5·86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -11·11, -0·61, P = 0·029) and memory capacities (β = -0·86, 95% CI: -1·58, -0·15, P = 0·017). The interaction between T. gondii seropositivity and vitamin E significantly correlated with memory scores. In subgroup analysis, Toxoplasma-associated memory impairment was worse in children with lower serum vitamin E concentrations (β = -1·61, 95% CI: -2·44, -0·77, P < 0·001) than in those with higher values (β = -0·12, 95% CI: -1·23, 0·99, P = 0·83). In conclusion, Toxoplasma seropositivity may be associated with reading and memory impairments in school-aged children. Serum vitamin E seems to modify the relationship between the parasitic infection and memory deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology,College of Public Health,University of Iowa,Iowa City,Iowa,USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendy
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy,Florida International University,Miami,Florida,USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics,Florida International University,Miami,Florida,USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Albatineh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health,Florida International University,Miami,FL/South Florida Asthma Consortium,Ft. Lauderdale,Florida,USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; Vitamin E; cognition; cognitive function; infection; intelligence; math; memory; parasites; reading; school-aged children; vitamins