The urban risk and migration risk factors for schizophrenia: are cats the answer?

E Fuller Torrey; Robert H Yolken

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2014.09.027

The urban risk and migration risk factors for schizophrenia: are cats the answer?

Schizophr Res. 2014 Nov;159(2-3):299-302. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.09.027. Epub 2014 Oct 11.

Authors

E Fuller Torrey¹, Robert H Yolken²

Affiliations

¹ Stanley Medical Research Institute, United States. Electronic address: torreyf@stanleyresearch.org.
² Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, United States.

PMID: 25308833
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.09.027

Abstract

Being born in and/or raised in an urban area is a proven risk factor for developing schizophrenia. Migrating from countries such as Jamaica or Morocco to countries such as England or the Netherlands is also a proven risk factor for developing schizophrenia. The transmission of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts to children is reviewed and proposed as a partial explanation for both of these risk factors.

Keywords: Oocysts; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis; Urban risk.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
Cats
Emigration and Immigration*
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia / epidemiology*
Schizophrenia / etiology
Toxoplasma / pathogenicity
Toxoplasmosis / complications
Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
Urban Health
Urban Population