prion disease

noun

: any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Examples of prion disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease — a rare, neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins, called prions, that damage brain tissue. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024

The letter also notes that lions help curb the spread among ungulates of chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious prion disease, by removing sick animals. —Byhannah Richter, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024

In the pilot episode, directed by Larry Teng, Watson is confronted with a case of fatal familial insomnia which is coupled with the challenge of trying to help a pregnant woman with the neurodegenerative prion disease live long enough to deliver her baby. —Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Oct. 2024

Although Alzheimer’s is not a prion disease, some separate research suggests that the two proteins that are hallmarks in Alzheimer’s disease — amyloid beta and tau — behave like prions. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

prion disease

noun

: any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies that are caused and transmitted by prions and that include bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, kuru, scrapie, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

called also transmissible spongiform encephalopathy