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We are lucky that mass epidemics that plagued humans so far didn't affect the brain. Affections like rabies, that require individuals biting each other, and whi
by userulluipeste 3mo ago
We are lucky that mass epidemics that plagued humans so far didn't affect the brain. Affections like rabies, that require individuals biting each other, and which are the inspirational source of all those zombie fantasies, do not count. That is an attack vector easy to spot and manage. The scary scenario is the one like with this Sporothrix Brasiliensis fungus, which can spread by merely "sneezing out the infectious yeast", and then remain potent (outside a host) for "up to 10 weeks", plus (the cherry on top) -- "developing the disease three years after" the infection event. Any kind of pandemic is scary by the sheer magnitude of its reach, but one that would affect the brain? That would be another level of scary.
- curiousthought 3mo agoToxoplasma gondii affects animal behavior, I don't think it's a stretch to think it (or something similar) could affect humans in some way we haven't measured yet.
- fipar 3mo agoI think it’s very common for parasites to affect their host’s behavior. If you find this topic interesting, I recommend the book “Parasite Rex”
- bee_rider 3mo agoI think this is widely speculated already, right? It is just hard to measure human behavior. I mean one of the proposed effects on Wikipedia is a reduced aversion to cat urine. But obviously there is a correlation/causation question there, haha,
- giardini 3mo agouserulluipeste says "Affections like rabies" and "Any kind of pandemic is scary by the sheer magnitude of its reach, but one that would affect the brain? That would be another level of scary." "Affections"? Are you talking about socialism or Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) perhaps?
- userulluipeste 3mo agoNow, after you quoted me, I see that "affection" in the medical sense is considered archaic: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/affection#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/affection#English I'll keep this in mind, thank you. As for your question, I have little to do with USA politics, which includes holding little to no attitude towards POTUS, and I very much hope for situation to stay that way. Prudence compels me to refrain from saying anything more on the subject.
- giardini 3mo agoOr you could use "afflictions" rather than "affections". I don't often see the use of "affection" in the medical sense. Good comparison here: https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/232933/affection-vs-affliction https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/232933/affection-vs-...
- AlexeyBelov 3mo agoI think you're "affected". Why would you bring Trump into this discussion? UPD: reading your other comments confirms TDS.. I'm sorry.