If I ate a brain with a nuerological disease, would I get the disease. Yum

Question: If I ate a brain with a nuerological disease, would I get the disease. Yum
- Keywords:
  neurological
Asked by i0great0scientist to Carla, Madgie, Nick, Vicky, Werner on 13 Nov 2013.
- Vicky Forster answered on 13 Nov 2013:
  
  Hello,
  Good question! The answer would depend on what type of neurological disease and what caused it. If it was a neurological disease caused by a bacteria, virus, parasite or something called a prion – then maybe, although i don’t know a lot about this. If it was a neurological disease not caused by anything infectious, like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s (we don’t currently think that these are caused by transmissable microorganisms), then i think it would be impossible for you to get it.
- Werner Muller answered on 13 Nov 2013:
  
  There is a famous disease called Kuru. You can read more about this here:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_(disease)
- Nick Groves-Kirkby answered on 13 Nov 2013:
  
  Depending on what the disease was, then yes!
  
  Werner has mentioned Kuru. Another example is what we call Mad Cow Disease (variant CJD), which we had an outbreak of in the UK about 20 years ago now.
  
  We think vCJD is transmitted by proteins called prions that accumulate in affected brain and nervous tissue. In the 1980s, British beef and burgers contained all sorts of meat, probably including things like spinal cord. We think some people developed vCJD after eating this kind of meat.
  
  Nowadays, there are laws to prevent brain and nervous tissue entering our meat. Although given the horsemeat scandal we’re still not confident in what we’re eating.
  
  I’d advise you to stay away from brains unless you know they’re safe!
- Marlene Lorgen answered on 13 Nov 2013:
  
  I like to try different kinds, of food, but I don’t think brain would ever be on my menu!

Question: If I ate a brain with a nuerological disease, would I get the disease. Yum

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