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| Green Algae. Image Credit: Financetwitter.com |
Health -- Late
last year, scientists discovered that a virus that all along has been known to
attack green algae in rivers and lakes can also infect the human brain and make
one stupid. The Virus, Cholovirus ATCV-1 belonging
to the Phycodnavirdae family was
previously not known to infect humans or listed among viruses that can affect
humans.
According to findings of the study published in November
2013, scientists were surprised to recover the virus from samples extracted
from the human gut. The virus was accidently recovered from a throat swab during
the study, which included measuring the cognitive ability of participants.
Researchers in the U.S say that the virus can impair
learning and memory, cognitive activity, thereby making any infected person to
be less intelligent. Robert Yolken, a virologist at the John Hopkins Medical
School in Maryland, who participated in the study said that “This is a striking
example showing that the ‘innocuous’ microorganisms we carry can affect
behavior and cognition.” The virus is thought to inhabit the throat of infected individuals.
Participants who were found infected with the virus scored
up to 10% lower in cognitive tests compared to those not infected. The presence
of the virus was also associated with lower attention and “significant decrease
in visual processing and visual motor speed.” The virus is found in fresh water
and can easily be taken up by swimmers.
Further tests conducted by inserting infected algae into the
mouth of mice confirmed the cognitive effects of the virus. Infected mice took
10% longer time to make their way out of mazes and also took 20% longer time
exploring new objects, compared to uninfected mice.
Now human beings need to worry not only about
physical health risks associated with viral infection, but mental effects as well.
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