Which of the following diseases is caused by prions?

• A. Multiple sclerosis
• B. Kuru
• C. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• D. Parkinson’s Disease

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is Kuru, which is specifically caused by prions. Prions are misfolded proteins that can induce other proteins to also misfold, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. Kuru is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that was historically observed among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, particularly transmitted through the practice of cannibalism. The disease leads to severe neurological symptoms, including tremors, loss of coordination, and ultimately death, as the brain tissue becomes sponge-like due to the accumulation of these misfolded proteins.

In contrast, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease are associated with other pathological mechanisms. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the myelin sheath of neurons. ALS is a motor neuron disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, while Parkinson's disease involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in a specific area of the brain, typically linked to the aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein, not prions. Therefore, Kuru stands out as the only disease in the list that has a well-established causative link to prions.