Yale Finds Link Between Alzheimers's and Mad Cow

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Link found between Alzheimer's, mad cow protein

Bernadette Tansey, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, February 26, 2009

(02-25) 19:56 PST -- The latest in a recent flurry of clues on the workings of Alzheimer's disease comes from Yale University researchers who found a link between the disorder and the prion protein, which can cause mad cow disease and other maladies

The Yale team found that the prion protein, whose normal function is to maintain brain health, may contribute to nerve damage if it becomes entangled with a protein fragment that scientists consider a chief suspect as a cause for Alzheimer's disease.

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