prionic diseases

Prionic diseases are rare, fatal brain disorders caused by misfolded proteins called prions. These abnormal proteins induce normal proteins in the brain to also misfold, leading to brain damage and neurological decline. Examples include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in cattle. Prions can be transmitted through contaminated food, medical procedures, or inherited in some cases. Because they are resistant to standard sterilization, they pose significant health risks. Symptoms typically involve rapid mental deterioration, memory loss, personality changes, and coordination problems, progressing quickly to severe impairment and death.