Which type of disease is associated with prions?

Prion diseases are unique among the various categories of pathogens because they are caused by misfolded proteins known as prions. These proteins induce abnormal folding of normal cellular proteins, particularly in the brain, leading to neurodegenerative brain damage characterized by the formation of sponge-like holes in neural tissue. These diseases typically present with progressive neurological decline, memory loss, personality changes, and eventually lead to severe disability and death.

The most well-known prion diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (commonly known as "mad cow disease"), and Kuru. Given that the primary impact of prions is on the nervous system, categorizing them as neurodegenerative diseases accurately reflects their pathophysiological characteristics and clinical manifestations.