All articles tagged with #prion diseases
While most infectious diseases do not have a 100% fatality rate, some rare diseases like amoebic meningitis and prion diseases are nearly always fatal. Rabies is almost entirely preventable with immediate medical care, but once symptoms appear, it is nearly 100% fatal. Advances in medicine have made previously deadly diseases more manageable, but some, like prion diseases, remain incurable and lethal.
A recent study suggests that Alzheimer's disease may have been transmitted from person to person through the use of human growth hormone (hGH) derived from cadaveric pituitary glands before 1985. The study found evidence of early-onset Alzheimer's in recipients of this hGH, raising concerns about the potential transmission of the disease. However, the risk of such transmission today is considered to be incredibly low due to changes in hGH production methods. The findings highlight the potential for diseases to be transmitted through medical treatments and the need for ongoing research in this area.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), also known as "zombie deer disease," poses a potential threat to human health and the economy, with experts warning of a possible spillover to humans similar to mad cow disease. The University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) has launched an international effort to prepare for this scenario, bringing together experts to address public health and animal surveillance, diagnostics, and planning. CWD is caused by infectious proteins called prions and can be contracted by consuming contaminated meat from infected deer, elk, reindeer, or moose. While no human cases have been reported, the disease's long incubation period and potential for fecal-oral transmission raise concerns about its impact on human health.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been spreading in Ohio, with 22 infected deer reported in southern Wyandot and northern Marion counties by March 2023. The disease, caused by prions, poses a potential risk to humans who consume infected venison. While no definitive evidence of human transmission exists, research has shown potential transmission to animals with human genes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises preventing human exposure to CWD, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and caution in affected areas.
The author shares their personal experience with fatal familial insomnia (FFI), an ultrarare genetic disease that causes rapid deterioration of the brain and is always fatal. Several family members had succumbed to the disease, and the author faced the possibility of carrying the genetic mutation. They participated in a study on early diagnosis but chose to delay knowing their results until they could be with loved ones. After a year of uncertainty, the author received the news that they did not carry the mutation. While relieved, they acknowledge that the disease may still affect their family and embrace the importance of living a full and joyful life.
A 62-year-old man from the United States died from a brain disease linked to COVID-19, highlighting a potential connection between the virus and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly prion diseases. The patient exhibited symptoms such as bradykinesia, drooling, dementia, and an inability to walk, and tested positive for COVID-19. Despite inconclusive MRI results, a CSF protein test confirmed the presence of COVID-19. The study emphasizes the relationship between COVID-19 and neurodegenerative conditions, with prion diseases being a frequently cited example. Prion diseases are rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by abnormal folding of prion proteins in the brain, leading to brain damage and ultimately death.