Neurodegenerative Diseases: Kuru, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington

Neurodegenerative disorders discussed. Kuru among people of Papua New Guinea caused by transmission of abnormally folded Prion proteins inducing tremors, loss of coordination, and death. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease caused by Prions, memory problems, poor coordination, behavioral changes, dementia, and coma, 70% die within a year of diagnosis. Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Syndrome familial, fatal disease affects patients 20-60 years, heritable. Fatal Familial Insomnia trouble sleeping starting gradually, worsen over time, with speech, coordination problems, dementia, death from months-few years. Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy, sporadic Prion protein disease, in 2018, 14 cases in UK PrPSC Prion protein is less/more resistant to proteolysis. Alzheimer's disease cause of 60-70% cases of dementia, difficulty in remembering recent events, later problems with language, easily getting lost in the street, bodily functions are lost, leading to death. Parkinson Disease affects the motor system with shaking, rigidity, difficulty with walking, thinking and behavioral problems, ending in dementia, depression and anxiety in > 1/3 of people. Huntington's disease inherited disorder.