Not So Delusional Parasitosis

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Delusional parasitosis is a form of psychosis characterized by the false belief that one is infested with some sort of parasite. It can be triggered by a variety of brain diseases, including parasites themselves.

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Some parasites are real, and some are not. Delusional parasitosis. It’s a form of psychosis characterized by the false belief that you’re infested with some sort of parasite. It can be triggered by a variety of brain diseases such as schizophrenia, dementia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, stroke.

Tragic case report of a woman who suddenly started repeatedly washing her clothes with bleach until she ruined them, scratching her whole body up. She was hospitalized, persistently expressing her delusions of parasitosis. They did an MRI, and what did they find causing these delusions? An actual pork tapeworm in her brain. A tragic case, that was tragically ironic, “the first report of brain …parasitosis…as an underlying neurological condition in delusional parasitosis.”

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena.

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Some parasites are real, and some are not. Delusional parasitosis. It’s a form of psychosis characterized by the false belief that you’re infested with some sort of parasite. It can be triggered by a variety of brain diseases such as schizophrenia, dementia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, stroke.

Tragic case report of a woman who suddenly started repeatedly washing her clothes with bleach until she ruined them, scratching her whole body up. She was hospitalized, persistently expressing her delusions of parasitosis. They did an MRI, and what did they find causing these delusions? An actual pork tapeworm in her brain. A tragic case, that was tragically ironic, “the first report of brain …parasitosis…as an underlying neurological condition in delusional parasitosis.”

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Doctor's Note

Avoiding meat and other animal products can certainly reduce our risk of becoming infested with parasites, but may place us at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency (see Vegan Epidemic), which can have its own dire cognitive consequences. See Safest Source of B12 for the best way to get this critical vitamin. For more on pork tapeworm brain invasion, check out Pork Tapeworms on the Brain, and Avoiding Epilepsy Through Diet. Be sure to check out my other videos on brain health, including Improving Mood Through Diet; and Constructing a Cognitive Portfolio. 

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