Smith wanted to determine the proportion of schizophrenia cases that could be attributable to T.gondii
infection. He did this by calculating the population attributable
fraction (PAF) - a measure used by epidemiologists to understand the
importance of a risk factor.
"In other words," explains Smith, "we ask, if you could stop infections
with this parasite, how many [schizophrenia] cases could you prevent?"
Smith calculated the PAF fraction throughout an average lifetime
to be 21.4%, meaning that a fifth of all schizophrenia cases over a
lifetime could be prevented by stopping T. gondii infections from occurring. "That, to me, is significant," says Smith.
He notes that many countries have a much higher prevalence of T. gondii infections than the US, and such countries also have a higher prevalence of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability in the US, affecting more than 3.5 million people.
Smith believes that his findings indicate the importance of gaining a better understanding of the link between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia. He adds:
infection. He did this by calculating the population attributable
fraction (PAF) - a measure used by epidemiologists to understand the
importance of a risk factor.
"In other words," explains Smith, "we ask, if you could stop infections
with this parasite, how many [schizophrenia] cases could you prevent?"
Smith calculated the PAF fraction throughout an average lifetime
to be 21.4%, meaning that a fifth of all schizophrenia cases over a
lifetime could be prevented by stopping T. gondii infections from occurring. "That, to me, is significant," says Smith.
He notes that many countries have a much higher prevalence of T. gondii infections than the US, and such countries also have a higher prevalence of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability in the US, affecting more than 3.5 million people.
Smith believes that his findings indicate the importance of gaining a better understanding of the link between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia. He adds:
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