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Yale Researchers Shed Light on Epigenetic Differences in Patients with Syphilis and Neurosyphilis
Approximately 1% to 5% of people who are infected with syphilis will develop a complication of the disease called neurosyphilis. This occurs when the bacteria that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, infects the central nervous system. Neurosyphilis can be asymptomatic, but it can also be associated with stroke, muscle weakness, cognitive changes, and vision or hearing loss. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine set out to understand why some people with syphilis develop neurosyphilis, and if there might be long-term effects of the disease on the immune system even after successful treatment with antibiotics. The results were published in the October 2, 2024 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.