Toxoplasma gondii IgG associations with sleepwake problems, sleep duration and timing
Corona Celine C.,
Zhang Man,
Wadhawan Abhishek,
Daue Melanie L.,
Groer Maureen W.,
Dagdag Aline,
Lowry Christopher A.,
Hoisington Andrew J.,
Ryan Kathleen A.,
Stiller John W.,
Fuchs Dietmar,
Mitchell Braxton D.,
Postolache Teodor T.
Affiliations
Corona Celine C.
Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Zhang Man
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Wadhawan Abhishek
Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Daue Melanie L.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Groer Maureen W.
College of Nursing , University of South Florida Coleege of Nursing ,Tampa, Fl 33612,USA
Dagdag Aline
Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Lowry Christopher A.
Departament of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder ,CO 80309, USA ;Departament of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus ,Aurora, CO 80045 , USA
Hoisington Andrew J.
Rocky Mountain Mentall Illness Researcher Education and Clinical Center( MIRECC) , Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Military and Veteran. Microbime:Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE),Aurora, CO 80045 , USA
Ryan Kathleen A.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Stiller John W.
Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Fuchs Dietmar
Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University,Innsbruck, Austria
Mitchell Braxton D.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Postolache Teodor T.
Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Military and Veteran. Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, VA Capitol Health Center Network,Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Background: Evidence links Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a neurotropic parasite, with schizophrenia, mood disorders and suicidal behavior, all of which are associated and exacerbated by disrupted sleep. Moreover, low-grade immune activation and dopaminergic overstimulation, which are consequences of T. gondii infection, could alter sleep patterns and duration. Methods: Sleep data on 833 Amish participants [mean age (SD) = 44.28 (16.99) years; 59.06% women] were obtained via self-reported questionnaires that assessed sleep problems, duration and timing. T. gondii IgG was measured with ELISA. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regressions and linear mixed models, with adjustment for age, sex and family structure. Results: T. gondii seropositives reported less sleep problems (p < 0.005) and less daytime problems due to poor sleep (p < 0.005). Higher T. gondii titers were associated with longer sleep duration (p < 0.05), earlier bedtime (p < 0.005) and earlier mid-sleep time (p < 0.05). Conclusions: It seems unlikely that sleep mediates the previously reported associations between T. gondii and mental illness. Future longitudinal studies with objective measures are necessary to replicate our findings.
