Diseases

Prion Diseases

A group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated with abnormal PRIONS. These diseases are characterized by conversion of the normal prion protein to an abnormal configuration via a post-translational process. In humans, these conditions generally feature DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; and a fatal outcome. Pathologic features include a spongiform encephalopathy without evidence of inflammation. The older literature occasionally refers to these as unconventional SLOW VIRUS DISEASES. (From Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 Nov 10;95(23):13363-83)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated with abnormal PRIONS. These diseases are characterized by conversion of the normal prion protein to an abnormal configuration via a post-translational process. In humans, these conditions generally feature DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; and a fatal outcome. Pathologic features include a spongiform encephalopathy without evidence of inflammation. The older literature occasionally refers to these as unconventional SLOW VIRUS DISEASES. (From Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 Nov 10;95(23):13363-83)

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Synonyms

22 entry terms
  • Dementias, Transmissible
  • Encephalopathies, Spongiform, Transmissible
  • Prion Disease
  • Prion Protein Diseases
  • Prion-Associated Disorders
  • Prion-Induced Disorder
  • Prion-Induced Disorders
  • Spongiform Encephalopathies, Transmissible
  • Transmissible Dementias
  • Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
  • Dementia, Transmissible
  • Disorder, Prion-Induced
  • Disorders, Prion-Induced
  • Encephalopathies, Transmissible Spongiform
  • Encephalopathy, Transmissible Spongiform
  • Prion Induced Disorder
  • Prion Protein Disease
  • Spongiform Encephalopathy, Transmissible
  • Transmissible Dementia
  • Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  • Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Inherited
  • Inherited Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

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Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics

MeSH Record

History Note

1993

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Slow Virus Diseases (1966-1992)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.207w.800w
  2. C10w.228w.228w.800w
  3. C10w.574w.843w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 301

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Prion Diseases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017096. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017096
  2. Prion Diseases. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmissible_spongiform_encephalopathy
  3. Prion Diseases. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q703961