The Wildcard · Toronto Morning Wire

Your brain might have a squatting tenant you don't know about.

Your brain has a squatting tenant you don't even know about

Okay but real talk—you fam, you really need to sit down for this one. I just read something, and my *thalaivan* (that's 'dude' in Tamil, for real) is absolutely spinning. You know how sometimes you feel a little off, maybe a bit foggy? Apparently, there's a good chance it's not just the TTC delays making you lose your mind, it could be a brain-eating virus you’re already infected with. *Ayyo paavam!*

### The Uninvited Guest in Your Head

So, the scoop is this: researchers used to think this fatal brain infection, called *Toxoplasma gondii*, only messed with people who had really weak immune systems. Like, super suppressed. But new research is saying, nah, fam, that ain't it. A huge chunk of humanity, possibly *everyone*, might already be carrying this thing around.

Here's the lowdown:

* **The Culprit:** *Toxoplasma gondii*, a parasite. * **Where it Lives:** It makes its home in your brain. Your brain, dude! * **Old Thinking:** Only a threat to the immunocompromised. * **New Thinking:** It could be affecting almost everyone, all the time.

And this isn't some niche, far-off thing. They're saying it's *you*. It's *me*. It's that guy on the 501 Queen streetcar who looks like he's seen things. It's the pigeons at Scarborough Town Centre. It’s wild, because we’re out here worrying about property taxes and if the Leafs will ever make it past the first round, and meanwhile, there's a whole party happening in our grey matter without our permission.

Real talk, this is Toronto — stay up.

Mornings.live has the real tea on this and so much more wild stuff. Tune in!

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