Scientists Discover a Virus That Changes the Brain To "Make Humans More Stupid"

concertina226 writes that researchers have found a virus that appears to reduce people’s thinking power and attention span. "Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Nebraska have discovered an algae virus that makes us more stupid by infecting our brains. The researchers were conducting a completely unrelated study into throat microbes when they realized that DNA in the throats of healthy people matched the DNA of a chlorovirus virus known as ATCV-1. ATCV-1 is a virus that infects the green algae found in freshwater lakes and ponds. It had previously been thought to be non-infectious to humans, but the scientists found that it actually affects cognitive functions in the brain by shortening attention span and causing a decrease in spatial awareness. For the first time ever, the researchers proved that microorganisms have the ability to trigger delicate physiological changes to the human body, without launching a full-blown attack on the human immune system."

Comments

Hack it!

[Anonymous Coward]

Change the payload to make it make us smarter, or cure diseases of the brain. Similar to what they've done with HIV.

First time?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

For the first time ever, the researchers proved that microorganisms have the ability to trigger delicate physiological changes to the human body, without launching a full-blown attack on the human immune system.

The first? What about Toxoplasma gondii ?

Re:First time?

[Will.Woodhull]

That doesn't explain the high prevalence of toxo antibodies in some human populations. CDC estimates about 20% of the USA population has been affected by toxo at some time in their life. Toxo is a very prevalent parasite, suggesting that its modes of transmission are a lot more effective than parent post implies.

There is anecdotal evidence that women who choose to live with multiple cats are often polyamorous or blatantly promiscuous, take risks with social norms that lead to frequent loss of jobs, and are exceptionally tolerant of the stench of cat piss. Rats that have been infected with toxo have been shown to become more daring than the average rat, and to be attracted to the odor of cat piss.

Let me guess...

[Anonymous Coward]

Those lakes and ponds are in the southern US of A?

Re:Real article is here

[RDW]

Rather an odd study. Viral DNA apparently present in nearly half the subjects. They went straight to a mouse model before attempting to confirm the (small) effect in a larger, independent human cohort. No evidence that the virus actually infects mammalian cells, which would be an extremely unusual host range (the only precedent of anything similar they could find to cite is in an obscure Ukrainian journal). I'd say 'more research is needed', but maybe that's just the virus talking.

Re:Virus Name

[geekoid]

Fox is objectively worse then MSNBC, or any other news show.
There is a reason it can't be called News in Canada. Why Rupert change what the show is depending on the court case. Sometime sit's news, and sometime sit's entertainment.

Which isn't to say MSNBC can't be better.
AS far a political reporting goes, NPR is the best.
Yeah, yeah, someone is going to scream liberal, but I have been paying attention to the questions they ask any politician, and the difficulty of the question is the same for any politician.