7. This figure shows a schematic representation of a cross section of a human brain. Various regions of the brain are indicated.
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Different prion diseases preferentially affect different brain regions. The symptoms of the affected individual depend on which region of the brain is affected.
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Panel 1: When the cerebral cortex is affected, the symptoms include loss of memory and mental acuity and sometimes visual impairement (CJD).
Panel 2: Damage to the thalamus may result in fatal insomnia (FFI).
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Panel 3: In the case of mad cow disease, the bovine brain stem is affected (note that the picture shows a human brain rather than a bovine brain).
Panel 4: Damage to the cerebellum results in problems with the coordination of body movements and in difficulties to walk (kuru, Gerstmann-Straussler Scheinker, GSS).
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