Association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and memory function in nondemented older adults

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasmosis, Neurocognitive function, Aging, Memory

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seropositivity may be associated with decreased memory in older adults. To further investigate the association between T. gondii seropositivity and memory in nondemented older adults, we obtained serum samples from 114 nondemented older adults evaluated by the Alzheimer's Disease and Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. We determined T. gondii seropositivity and anti-T. gondii IgG antibody titer and examined associations with memory function while controlling for socioeconomic status, education level, age, and apolipoprotein E4 status. There were few associations between T. gondii seropositivity or anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and memory, although there was some support suggesting an interaction between anti-T. gondii and sex. In the seropositive-only sample, there was an inverse relationship between anti-T. gondiititer and performance on the selective reminding test. Overall, we found little evidence of an association between impaired memory function and T. gondii seropositivity and anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in this sample of nondemented older adults.

Original Publication Citation

Wyman, Cynthia Perry, Shawn D. Gale, Ariana Hedges-Muncy, Lance D. Erickson, Eric Wilson, and Dawson W. Hedges. (2017). “Association between Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity and Memory Function in Non-Demented Older Adults.” Neurobiology of Aging. 53:76-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.01.018.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2017-5

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5590

Publisher

Neurobiology of Agin

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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