Question

Is Alzheimer's a prion disease?

Answer 1

Prion disease:

1. Prion disease is a group of conditions that affects the nervous system, causing fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals.
2. It converts normal proteins into toxic forms that can erode the brain and body.
3. In humans, it can impair brain function, and cause changes in memory, personality, and behavior, dementia, and difficulty with coordinating movements (ataxia).
4. In humans, prion diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and CJD.

Alzheimer's disease:

1. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive loss of memory and cognitive function.
2. Recent studies have shown that two proteins that are important in the pathology of Alzheimer’s act as prions.
3. Alzheimer’s disease is a double-prion disorder in which these two rogue proteins together destroy the brain.