Toxoplasmosis combined with a gene almost triples risk of schizophrenia – COPE

A study published by “Genes” concludes that having suffered toxoplasmosis combined with some variants of the COMT gene multiplies by 2.7 the risk of suffering from schizophrenia, according to the Grup Pere Mata, which has participated in the research. The research work shows that Toxoplasma Gondii infection (which causes toxoplasmosis) interacts with several modifications of the COMT gene and increases the risk of schizophrenia by 2.7, especially with the Met/Met variant. The COMT gene is responsible for the metabolism of dopamine – one of the main neurotransmitters- and regulates their quantity in the brain, although variants such as Met/Met are less efficient in this process, which causes an excess of dopamine. On the other hand, Toxoplasma Gondii infection affects the speed of metabolism of dopamine, so that an infected person who also has the COMT Met/Met gene almost triples the chances of suffering from schizophrenia. Note that Toxoplasma Gondii infection can cause psychotic symptoms and can affect other neurotransmitters that play a secondary role in schizophrenia, such as serotonin and glutamate. This study is the first to look at the interaction between this specific genetic variation and this environmental infectious risk factor. The research team is made up of the universities of Granada, Barcelona and the State of New York. Rafael Martínez, head of the Research Unit on Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disorders (UNIVIDD) of the Villablanca Foundation of the Pere Mata Group, has also participated.