Alzheimer’s Prevention Role Discovered For Prions (Science Daily) A role for prion proteins, the much debated agents of mad cow disease and vCJD, has been identified. It appears that the normal prions produced by the body help to prevent the plaques that build up in the brain to cause Alzheimer's disease. The possible function for the mysterious proteins was discovered by a team of scientists led by Medical Research Council funded scientist Professor Nigel ... [News Source]

New diagnostic test for mad cow disease developed. Scottish scientists have developed a new technique to diagnose mad cow disease in humans. [News Source]