Mesh term Prion Diseases
Browse to parent terms:Central Nervous System Infections
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Description
A group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated with abnormal PRIONS. These diseases are characterized by conversion of the normal prion protein to an abnormal configuration via a post-translational process. In humans, these conditions generally feature DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; and a fatal outcome. Pathologic features include a spongiform encephalopathy without evidence of inflammation. The older literature occasionally refers to these as unconventional SLOW VIRUS DISEASES. (From Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 Nov 10;95(23):13363-83)Browse to child terms:
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome
Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform
Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease
Insomnia, Fatal Familial
Kuru
Scrapie
Wasting Disease, Chronic
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