Introduction: Prion diseases
Prion diseases:
Prions are abnormal proteins that attack the brain from inside.
None of the human prion diseases are common
and animal prion diseases are more common.
The various transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
in animals caused by prions include the famous "mad cow disease" (BSE),
scrapies in sheep, chronic wasting disease of deer and elk,
and various others.
Human prion diseases include CJD,
variant CJD (possibly linked to BSE),
the obscure kuru (from brain cannibalism in New Guinea),
Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease,
and the bizarre fatal familial insomnia (where a
person literally dies because they cannot fall asleep).
See detailed discussion in article Prion Diseases.
Prion diseases: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also known as prion diseases, are a group of rare degenerative brain disorders characterized by tiny holes that give the brain a "spongy" appearance. These holes can be seen when brain tissue is viewed under a microscope. 1
Conditions list: The list of conditions in the Prion diseases group includes:
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Variant CJD
- kuru
- fatal familial insomnia
- Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease
- bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - mad cow disease, animal-only
- scrapie - sheep and goats, animal-only
- mink encephalopathy - in minks, animal-only
- feline encephalopathy - in cats, animal-only
- Feline spongiform encephalopathy - affecting cats.
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) - affecting mule deer and elk (i.e. animals only)
- Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of mule deer and elk
- Transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME)
Conditions by class: See also the full list of conditions in class prion.
Researching symptoms of Prion diseases: Further information about the symptoms of Prion diseases is available including a list of symptoms of Prion diseases, other diseases that might have similar symptoms in differential diagnosis of Prion diseases, or alternatively return to research other symptoms in the symptom center.
Misdiagnosis and Prion diseases: Research more detailed information about misdiagnosis of Prion diseases, or research misdiagnosis of other diseases
Treatments for Prion diseases: Various information is available about treatments available for Prion diseases, or research treatments for other diseases.
Causes of Prion diseases:
Research more detailed information about the causes of Prion diseases,
or other general information about Prion diseases.
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Footnotes:
1. excerpt from NINDS Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Information Page: NINDS
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