Prion Discovery: Rogue Proteins Linked to Neurodegenerative Diseases Similar to Parkinson's

Researchers studying a degenerative nervous disorder similar to Parkinson's disease claim it is caused by a mutant protein called prion that also causes the mad cow disease.

Multiple System Atrophy or MSA affects 15,000 to 50,000 Americans at any given time, reports NBC News. The disease is caused when a protein in the brain does not fold properly, becoming what is called a prion. Prions are mutant proteins that build and cause nervous disorders.

"Symptoms tend to appear in a person's 50s and advance rapidly over the course of 5 to 10 years, with progressive loss of motor function and eventual confinement to bed. People with MSA often develop pneumonia in the later stages of the disease and may suddenly die from cardiac or respiratory issues," the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke informs on its website.

MSA has been confused with Parkinson's and doctors have attempted treating it with L-Dopa, the standard Parkinson's treatment. However, prion disorders have no known cure as they cannot be killed or disinfected.

Mad Cow Disease and the human variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) are caused by mutant prions that cause holes in the brain and change its texture, giving it the appearance of a sponge. While all prion caused disorders are eventually fatal, their occurrence is very rare.