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posted by martyb on Tuesday November 11 2014, @06:55AM   Printer-friendly
from the stupid-virus dept.

The Sunday Times reports that scientists have found a virus that appears to infect human brains, reducing people’s thinking power including their spatial awareness and attention span (paywalled). The virus, ATCV-1, seems to alter genes governing brain function. “Unexpectedly, we identified DNA sequences of ATCV-1, an algal virus not previously known to infect humans, in oropharyngeal [throat] samples from healthy adults,” said the researchers. “ATCV-1 was associated with a modest but measurable decrease in cognitive functioning.” By using modern bioinformatics analysis, the genes effected were found to be involved in pathways related to dopamine receptor signaling, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) signaling, antigen presentation, immune cell adhesion, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2. Note that dopamine is a central component of many psychiatric conditions."

 
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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Tuesday November 11 2014, @08:43AM

    by Rosco P. Coltrane (4757) on Tuesday November 11 2014, @08:43AM (#114751)

    Yes, and their lives is probably happier than yours too.

    My neighbor is an idiot: he doesn't have a very mentally challenging job, he spends the little money and free time he has on football matches, beer and car tuning accessories. He can't perform a simple addition without a calculator, and can't write a three-word sentence correctly. He's never read a book, prefers David Guetta to Mozart, and thinks M.C. Escher is a DJ. His wife and kids don't seem much better endowed mentally or culturally

    But you know what? His life is probably better than mine.

    Sure he ain't rich and can't afford all the things he says he'd like to own, but he genuinely goes through life like he goes through a fog. He never asks himself deep, searching questions. He never worries about the future. He doesn't see the world's problem coming towards him and slowly gnawing at his quality of life. He doesn't see the global Orwellian state this country is slowly becoming. He doesn't understand any of these issues: he doesn't know anything beyond his last paycheck and the latest football results.

    In short, he lives the same life the same way my cat does: totally ignorant and oblivious to everything. That's gotta be comfortable. Some days I envy him.

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  • (Score: 2) by Subsentient on Tuesday November 11 2014, @09:48AM

    by Subsentient (1111) on Tuesday November 11 2014, @09:48AM (#114767) Homepage Journal

    I agree completely. Ignorance is bliss. Find me a genius older than 20 who isn't depressed and isn't a superstar.

    --
    "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:00PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @01:00PM (#114800)

      I have a 142 iq and was formally tested. I am antisocial so I am no superstar, but I love my life and family. I am also not on medicine/treatment for depression. Your partial sentences are a great example of why I avoid people who think they are smart.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @07:22PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @07:22PM (#114947)

        Which sentence is incomplete?

    • (Score: 2) by tibman on Tuesday November 11 2014, @03:09PM

      by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 11 2014, @03:09PM (#114847)

      The most intelligent person i've ever known went crazy in his mid-20's. Now he "sells dreams for Disney" and has a partner in India. They have business meetings every night. I asked him when they'll start paying him. He said that dreams don't work that way. Having a conversation with him is painful because i feel like his crazy is infecting my mind. Playing board games with him is a lot of fun though. Apparently being crazy doesn't blunt someone's ability to crush you in strategy games. He never goes easy and i never win, lol. Its a sad realization that you'd prefer a game of chance because you are literally not intelligent enough to defeat your opponent (crazy or not).

      --
      SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:17PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 11 2014, @04:17PM (#114877)

    Your cat has the same opinion of you.