prion disease

Prion disease is a type of neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins called prions. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions don't contain genetic material and can trigger normal proteins in the brain to also misfold. This process leads to brain damage and symptoms such as memory loss, changes in behavior, and difficulties with movement. Diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in cattle are examples. Prion diseases are generally rare but are serious and currently incurable, highlighting the importance of understanding how proteins function and misfold in the brain.