Advances in the Understanding of Prion Diseases

Abstract

Prion diseases are a group of rare, fatal neurodegenerative conditions characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins called prions. These diseases affect both humans and animals and include conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, mad cow disease, and kuru. Prion diseases are unique because they are caused by the misfolding of a normal protein into a disease-causing form, which can then induce other proteins to adopt this abnormal shape. This article reviews the latest advances in the understanding of prion diseases, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of prion propagation, the challenges in diagnosing and treating prion diseases, and emerging strategies for therapeutic intervention. Additionally, the article discusses the role of prions in other diseases and their potential as a model for understanding protein misfolding in neurodegenerative conditions.