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A new study from Yale has found a link between Alzheimer's and prion proteins. NPR is reporting this today as a similarity between "Mad Cow Disease" (BSE) and Alzheimer's, although near the end of the piece they say there isn't necessarily a link (the story isn't online yet, so I can't double-check their wording). Prion proteins occur in everyone's cells, and normally don't cause a problem. In the case of BSE, something causes the prion protein to form in a different shape, and the result is it causes the disease. It is possible that prion proteins are susceptible to being influenced in a number of ways, with varying results. I suspect (and certainly hope) there is not a causative link between BSE and Alzheimer's. This is exciting news from the Alzheimer's front, because it provides a new direction for research and implicates a well-studied protein. However, since prion proteins are also involved in BSE we will be seeing more BSE confusion in the news. Here's the Yale research... http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/02/25/scientists-spot-new-clue-to-alzheimers.html