How People Get Prion Disease
Familial forms of prion disease are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. In most cases, an affected person inherits the altered gene from one affected parent. In some people, familial forms of prion disease are caused by a new mutation in the PRNP gene. Although such people most likely do not have an affected parent, they can pass the genetic change to their children.
The sporadic, iatrogenic, and acquired forms of prion disease, including kuru and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are not inherited.
