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Differences in cognitive functions between cytomegalovirus-infected and cytomegalovirus-free university students: a

Veronika Chvátalová1, Blanka Šebánková1, Hana Hrbáčková2

  • 1Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 00, Prague 2, Czech Republic.

Scientific Reports
|March 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may be linked to higher intelligence in some individuals. However, IQ appears to decrease over time post-infection, suggesting a complex relationship between CMV and cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widespread herpetic virus with a global prevalence ranging from 45-100%.
  • Previous research indicates a potential link between CMV infection and impaired cognitive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on the intelligence and knowledge of infected individuals.
  • To compare the IQ of CMV-infected university students with their CMV-free counterparts.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Intelligence Structure Test I-S-T 2000 R for IQ assessment.
  • Compared 148 CMV-infected students with 135 CMV-free students.
  • Analyzed the correlation between anti-CMV antibody concentration and IQ, controlling for age.

Main Results:

  • CMV-infected students exhibited higher intelligence scores compared to CMV-free students.
  • A paradoxical inverse correlation was observed between IQ and anti-CMV antibody concentration.
  • This suggests that IQ may decrease over time since infection.

Conclusions:

  • The study presents a paradox where CMV infection appears associated with higher intelligence, yet IQ declines with infection duration.
  • A potential explanation involves a subpopulation of "false negative" CMV-positive individuals with older infections and lower intelligence.
  • Given CMV's high prevalence, its impact on human intelligence warrants further investigation.

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