I was also wondering if the prevailing scientific opinion is that the prion evolved from a virus, or if it is more like a cancer-type development in otherwise normal brain cells.
2007-05-29 04:06:01 · 2 answers · asked by Nels 7 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Thanks for your answer. This has been on my mind for a while and brain disorders are an interest of mine for some reason.
2007-05-29 04:57:00 · update #1
Although the other poster informed you about the differences of the two, he didn't go in depth about prions, which it sounds like you want to know more about. Prions are what we call "infections proteins", and elicit NO immune response whatsoever. What this all means is that if you get even one tiny infectious protein in your body, your immune system will not be primed to fight it off....in fact, it won't even know it is there. The prion will then turn every "normal" protein it comes in contact with into an infectious one, and pretty soon you start developing symptoms such as falling down, lack of control, etc.
2007-05-29 07:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by gabe_library 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alzheimer's and prion diseases have only one thing in common--the changes in proteins caused by both of these things are similar, but Alzheimer's is a genetic mutation, while prions are infection. So, alzheimer's is functionally more similar to cancer.
2007-05-29 04:45:55 · answer #2 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋