Prion diseases target the brain's neural pathways, causing traffic jams that lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases. Image via Cell.
Science

Breakthrough research discovers how prion disease targets brain cells

In a presentation made to a joint meeting of American and European societies for cell biology, researcher Tai Chaiamarit revealed hitherto unknown mechanisms by which the incurable prion disease affects the brain. Chaiamarit reported that prions, which are chains of misfolded proteins, cause traffic jams in axons, the neural pathways that connect various parts of the brain, and thus cause severe neurodegenerative diseases.

research prions prion-disease tai-chaiamarit cell-biology proteins misfolded axons brain-cells neural-pathway neurodegenerative

Tue Dec 17 - ScienceNews

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