A cat-borne parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which infects about 40 million people in the US, may cause adults to be more frail as they age.
The parasite is associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness, and the study found it may also contribute to signs of frailty such as exhaustion and loss of muscle mass.
The study did not find an association between an infection to T. gondii and frailty, but those with a higher concentration of antibodies to the parasite were more likely to be frail. [ more ]