brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Overview of Prion Diseases
Familial prion diseases
 more likely to change into prions. More than 50 mutations exist. Different mutations can cause different prion diseases. Familial prion diseases are almost always inherited as an Non–X-Linked (Autosomal) Inheritance . That means that the mutation is not on the sex (X or Y) chromosomes and that only one mutated gene for the disease, one from either parent, is required for the disease to develop. There are three main groups of familial prion diseases: Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) None Fatal Insomnia None Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Disease (GSS) None Another familial prion disease has been discovered that differs from other prion diseases because it causes diarrhea and affects nerves throughout the body years before symptoms of brain malfunction develop. It is described as Prion Disease Associated With Diarrhea and Autonomic Neuropathy . 