Scientists have found that a brain parasite called Toxoplasma gondii can aid in the production of dopamine, one of the most important hormones in the body.

A research team from the University of Leeds are able to provide a demonstration showing that this brain parasite, commonly found in about 10 to 20 percent of the population in the United Kingdom, can have direct effects on the key chemical messenger that the brain utilizes for communication for various processes in the body.

The initial research was carried out on laboratory mice by a team lead by Dr. Glenn McConkey from the Faculty of Biological Sciences. The team believes that the findings from this experiment can greatly impact how human neurological disorders are diagnosed and treated. The findings can also give more insight on the mechanisms and processes involved in dopamine related mental conditions such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson’s disease.

The study shows that the brain parasite directly switches on the production of dopamine and also aids in the release of the chemical in the brain multiple times with amounts that are higher than normal.

Dopamine is an essential chemical in the body that aids in passing on the messages from the brain to other parts of the body and push for different responses related to movement, cognition and behaviour. Dopamine is also the hormone that facilitates reward and pleasure, as well as emotional responses.

“Based on our analysis, it is clear that Toxoplasma gondii can help in the significant increase in dopamine production in neural cells. Humans are accidental hosts to T. gondii and the parasite could end up anywhere in the brain, so human symptoms of toxoplasmosis infection may depend on where parasite ends up. This may explain the observed statistical link between incidences of schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis infection,” says Dr. McConkey.

Dr. McConkey shared the team’s next plan which is to study further the parasite enzyme in order to know the mechanism by which this parasite aids dopamine production and how scientists can manipulate this for different purposes.
The study is backed by funding from the Stanley Medical Research Institute and Dunhill Medical Trust.