Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of rare, deadly brain disorders caused by abnormal proteins called prions. These misfolded proteins damage brain tissue, creating sponge-like holes that impair brain function. TSEs can spread within and between species through contaminated food, medical instruments, or inheritance. They are characterized by neurological symptoms such as memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination problems, and ultimately paralysis. TSEs include diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in cattle. Currently, TSEs are incurable, and affected individuals typically experience a rapid decline leading to death.