Toxoplasma gondii can affect the brain, but how and how much depends on the person. What actually happens in the brain • After infection, the parasite can cross the blood–brain barrier • It forms tiny cysts (bradyzoites) in brain tissue • These cysts are usually dormant, not actively attacking So it’s less like an “ongoing assault” and more like a long-term presence that the immune system keeps in check. Research shows associations between latent toxoplasmosis and: • Slower reaction times • Incr