Question

What is the analogous variant of mad cow disease in humans called?

Answer 1

Mad cow disease:

1. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a degenerative neurological condition in cattle caused by infection with a prion, a unique transmissible agent.
2. The transmissible agent's nature isn't well understood.
3. The analogous variant in humans is called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease:

1. It is a degenerative brain disease that causes dementia and eventually death.
2. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease develops spontaneously, inherited, or passed down through the family through contact with diseased tissue, such as after a transplant or by eating contaminated meat.
3. Illness produces personality changes, anxiety, and depression.