Prions are abnormal proteins that can cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. In the 1950s, an unknown disease called "Kuru" devastated the Fore tribe in New Guinea, causing tremors, loss of motor control, and ultimately death. It was later determined that prions were responsible for Kuru and other prion diseases, which are characterized by long incubation periods, spongy changes in the brain, and neuronal loss without inflammation. Prion diseases affect the nervous system and cause changes in brain function, behavior, and cognition that progressively worsen over time from months to years until death. Causes include genetic mutations, exposure to infected tissues or during medical procedures, and consumption of beef products containing pr