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How does syphilis cause paresis?
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syphilis
Scanning electron micrograph of Treponema pallidum, the spirochete bacterium that is the causative agent of syphilis.
Paresis, also known as general paresis, is a manifestation of late-stage or tertiary syphilis that affects the central nervous system. It is caused by the widespread destruction of brain tissue resulting from an invasion of the nervous system by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.4123
This neurological deterioration leads to a range of severe symptoms, including progressive dementia, memory loss, personality changes, impaired judgment, and seizures. While the condition was historically fatal, modern treatment with antibiotics can stop the progression of the disease.413