![]() ![]() The PRNP gene is important because it controls PrP protein creation. However, the gene can spontaneously mutate in rare cases. In most cases, the mutation is passed down to the child from a parent. The mutation takes place in the sperm or egg that forms the baby. In people with FFI, it’s been found that a mutation to the PRNP gene is what causes prion malfunction. Some of these diseases are genetic, such as FFI, but others can be caused by infections. Hence, the condition is caused by a malfunction of proteins found within the brain. It’s vital to note that even though FFI contains the word insomnia, it’s not a sleep disorder - it’s a prion disease. What are the Causes of Fatal Familial Insomnia? According to Johns Hopkins, the United States has only about 300 cases of prion diseases each year. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru are other prion diseases, but FFI is considered the rarest of all. Prion diseases are rare conditions that lead to the loss of nerve cells within the brain. FFI is part of a family of conditions referred to as prion diseases. However, this timeline varies between people. Still, researchers know very little about this disorder, except that it’s probably not genetic.įatal familial insomnia gets its name in part due to the fact that most people die within two years of developing symptoms. The good news is that as of 2016, there have only been 24 documented cases of this condition. Though the main symptom of FFI is insomnia, it can also lead to other symptoms like dementia and speech problems.Īnd what’s even scarier is that there’s an even more rare variant known as sporadic fatal insomnia. The disease affects the area of the brain where many important functions, such as sleep and emotional expression, are controlled, known as the thalamus. What is Fatal Familial Insomnia?įFI is an extremely rare disorder that’s passed down through families. The rare disease is known as fatal familial insomnia ( FFI), and it usually leads to a quick demise for anyone who develops it. Though it may sound scary or even impossible, there is a rare genetic condition that literally robs some people of the ability to get sleep. Rather, consider being awake 24/7 for months and completely unable to fall asleep even for a few minutes. ![]() And no, we’re not talking about an occasional bout of insomnia or even the level of chronic sleep deprivation that most of us consider normal in modern society. Imagine suddenly not being able to sleep. ![]()
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