prion disease
Misfolded protein sickness
Prion disease is a category of fatal brain disorders caused by misfolded proteins called prions.
Unlike infections from bacteria or viruses, prions contain no genetic material—they spread by converting normal proteins into abnormal forms, creating spongy holes in brain tissue.
Examples include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, mad cow disease in cattle, and scrapie in sheep.
The outbreak was traced to prion disease in the food supply.
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- familialPertaining to relatives
- iatrogenicCaused by medical care
- kuruPrion disease from cannibalism
- scrapieOvine prion disease
Able to spread disease
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
- zoonoticDisease from animals
- cross-speciesBetween different species
- iatrogenicCaused by medical care
contaminated · surgical instruments · dura mater · corneal transplant · growth hormone · blood transfusion · cannibalism · incubation period
Causing death or ruin
- incurableCannot be healed
- untreatableCannot be healed
- terminalAt the endpoint
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
irreversible · palliative care · death · mortality · end-stage · supportive care · hospice
Resembling a sponge's structure
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
- encephalopathyDisease impairing brain function
- cortexOrgan's external tissue
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
brainstem · thalamus · hippocampus · astrocytes · microglia · lesions · histopathology · brain biopsy
Chronic cognitive impairment
- ataxiaImpaired voluntary movement control
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
- cognitive declineWorsening of thought abilities
- memory lossFailure to recall
confusion · disorientation · behavioral changes · hallucinations · insomnia · dysarthria · apraxia · visual disturbances
Combined collection of items
- amyloidCross-beta protein aggregate
- seedingPlanting or ranking
- templatingCreating reusable document frameworks
- chaperonesSupervising companions for youth
sporadic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- familialPertaining to relatives
- iatrogenicCaused by medical care
- kuruPrion disease from cannibalism
infectious
Able to spread disease
- transmissibleAble to spread between individuals
- zoonoticDisease from animals
- cross-speciesBetween different species
iatrogenic · contaminated · surgical instruments · dura mater · corneal transplant · growth hormone · blood transfusion · cannibalism · incubation period · species barrier
fatal
Causing death or ruin
- incurableCannot be healed
- untreatableCannot be healed
- terminalAt the endpoint
progressive · irreversible · palliative care · death · mortality · end-stage · supportive care · hospice
spongiform
Resembling a sponge's structure
- neurodegenerationProgressive loss of neurons
- encephalopathyDisease impairing brain function
- cortexOrgan's external tissue
cerebellum · brainstem · thalamus · hippocampus · astrocytes · microglia · lesions · histopathology · brain biopsy
dementia
Chronic cognitive impairment
- ataxiaImpaired voluntary movement control
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
- cognitive declineWorsening of thought abilities
memory loss · confusion · disorientation · behavioral changes · hallucinations · insomnia · dysarthria · apraxia · visual disturbances · startle response
aggregation
Combined collection of items
- amyloidCross-beta protein aggregate
- seedingPlanting or ranking
- templatingCreating reusable document frameworks
- infectious diseasescholera, anthrax, malaria, measles, flu
- Deadly Diseasesrabies, smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera, anthrax
- Brain Disordersdementia, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease
- Neurological Disordersepilepsy, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy
- zoonosesrabies, avian flu, bird flu, Ebola, SARS
- zoonotic diseaseszoonosis, zoonoses, zoonotic disease, rabies, leptospirosis
prion diseasehealth
Condition of body, mind
neurological health · healthy · wellness · cognitive health · mental clarity
prion diseaseviral infection
Disease caused by microbes
bacterial infection · viral disease · fungal infection · parasitic infection · bacterium