Prion Diseases

Prion diseases are a group of rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded proteins known as prions. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions don’t have genetic material; instead, they induce normally healthy proteins in the brain to also misfold. This leads to brain damage and serious symptoms like memory loss, changes in behavior, and loss of motor skills. Prion diseases are infectious and can be transmitted through contaminated food or medical procedures, with well-known examples including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease. There are currently no effective treatments, making prevention crucial.