A sexually transmitted yeast infection has been linked to schizophrenia in men and also appears to damage the memory of mentally ill women, according to new research.
The Candida albicans fungus is usually present in the human digestive tract, but if it grows to much it can cause burning, itching, thrush in infants, and a genital infection in adults.
The study found 26 per cent of 261 men with schizophrenia were producing immune-system antibodies designed to fight a Candida infection, compared to 14 per cent of those without the condition.
Dr. Severance: This paper has received some press attention suggesting that these yeast infections are only those that are sexually transmitted and this implication is incorrect. Candida albicans is a normal component of the human body microbiome and a Candida yeast infection very often reflects an imbalance of the body’s own microbial community.
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