Prions May Help Memories Persist (Medical News Today) Prions, proteins better known for the "negative" role they play in spreading mad cow disease, may also have a positive and important role in helping memories persist. This tentative suggestion was the conclusion of a study by Dr Kausik Si of Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, Nobel laureate Dr Eric Kandel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia ... [News Source]