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Home , Fore people, Kuru (disease)

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Bio - Cultural Analysis of Diseases in Australian Tribe

Delliswararao. Konduru1 , Chongneikim Hangsang2 & Madhu Sudhanarao. T3 1M.COM, M.A, (P.HD), PROJECT SCIENTIST "B" (N.M), NIE (I C M R). 2M.A (ANTHROPOLOGY) 3M.Sc. (ANTHROPOLOGY)

Abstract : From all over the globe Tribal’s are and fatal familial insomnia in biomedical science known for their unique culture and customs which due to resemblance of symptoms with kuru. Today makes them distinct from the main stream likewise the study of kuru has marked significant impact on South Fore of New Guinea exhibits a distinct medical research with an aim to eliminate the culture which lead them to obtained hereditary disease and also to prevent the people confusion by the practicing . from getting the disease by spreading awareness and doing clinical test. However the incubation This paper aim to highlight the effect of cultural period may extend depending upon the person. factors (belief, sorcery, etc.) in This is also called as preclinical determining the nature of and its implication or asymptomatic phase. The average incubation on human beings and also make an attempt to period is between 10–13 years or can be short as 5 understand hereditary and cultural variants in years and based on the record it has been estimated disseminating the prion . to last long for 50 years or more after initial Keywords: Cannibalism, Cultural factors, exposure and the youngest individual recorded to Genealogy, Genetic Disorder. have kuru among the South Fore was 12 years old girl. Definition: Methodology of study: The term’ kuru’ is derived from fore word’ kuria or Both primary and secondary data were collected guria’ which mean to shake, shiver, or trembling in fear. Kuru can be defined as a rare slow consisting of qualitative and quantitative methods. progressive neurological disease disseminated by In addition to that even case study was employed to practices of cannibalism rituals among the Fore examine and understand the phenomenon. Mode people of New Guinea. Sometimes kuru can also be of study involves Participation observation by known by different names such as laughing Death social scientist and scientific examination by or laughing Sickness or biomedical names like various biomedical researches. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), transmissible Cultural Description: spongiform etc.

Introduction: According to the Dr. Cole studies early relatives of modern humans, and he is particularly interested in The identification and study of kuru disease began how ancient hominines’ behaved and the in 1950 by a medical researcher Michael Alpers complexities of their lives. Paleolithic cannibalism and some Anthropologist in collaboration with offers a way to study that complexity, he said. If Australian Government. At first it was reported by ancient hominines’ were similar to modern patrol officers as psychosomatic and thought to be humans, they may have practiced cannibalism for a caused by sorcery and witchcraft. It was not until variety of reasons, including ritual, cultural, social 1957 scientific investigation was initiated by and nutritional. A researcher studying cannibalism Gajdusek and his team to understand the cause of in the Paleolithic era estimated that a human body kuru and try to find out the solution for curing the would provide an average of 125,000 to 144,000 disease. However after conducting an experiment calories, if consumed. Below, average calorie in laboratory kuru was confirmed as counts for some body parts. Dr. Cole found that neurodegenerative disease resulting from an human thighs come in at a beefy 13,350 calories, infectious agent in the . Sometimes this while the calves are about 4,490 calories. The disease is also as known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob upper arms are around 7,450 calories, and the disease, Gerstmann Sträussler Scheinker disease, forearms about 1,660 calories. Within the chest

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in cavity beats a heart that is about 650 calories. Kuru showed unusual epidemiological There are also the lungs, which come in around characteristics since women and children have 1,600 calories, and below them the liver sits at higher rate of getting the disease than men because around 2,570 calories. The kidneys total about 380 the women become the carrier and the affected calories together. genes are passed to the offspring through the mother from generation after generation. However He concludes that humans are not really worth Kuru is not prevalent among any tribes from eating purely for nutritional reasons. The meat on adjacent groups, even after having a good deal of one human’s body could have provided a group of contract nor it has been passed to European 25 modern adult males with enough calories to countries and thus due to this distinct features kuru survive for only about half a day, he found. In appears to be a rare disease in medical science. contrast, that same tribe during Paleolithic times could have feasted on a mammoth, which with 3.6 Cultural Factors for Kuru Disease: million calories would have provided enough sustenance for 60 days. Even a steppe bison would The Study of kuru disease does not only limit to offer 612,000 calories, enough for 10 days of biomedical research but also contributes to cultural nourishment. He said that because humans offered barriers in understanding the disease and this way such a comparatively low amount of calories, his contribution of social scientists like anthropologists findings suggested that some examples of came into existence. Anthropologists like Robert Paleolithic cannibalism that had been interpreted as and Shirley Glasse had done ethnographic field “nutritional” may have occurred for social or worked on South Fore groups highlighting the cultural reasons. impact of local tradition in determining the nature of kuru disease. They also worked on establishing Silvia Bello an anthropologist from the Natural the genealogy of the Fore tribe and try to History Museum in London who has also studied understand the rituals associated with cannibalism ancient cannibalism, agrees with the paper that and how cannibalism has form as an important part Paleolithic cannibalism was probably practiced of their culture. Based on the research it has been more as a choice than as a necessity. However, she found that the practice of cannibalism has emerged said finding the motivation behind those choices from 1910 as per as the local record and how this would be difficult. tradition has been a continuous process among the South Fore .The finding of the research also give a Coming to the kuru diseases, it is one of the most clear indication about the existence of acculturation distinct features of south Fore culture is the process with the neighboring tribal group in division of labour and pattern of residence where disseminating the practice of cannibalism. Thus, men sleep in the house engaging themselves in due to the practice of this custom, a rare kind of legal disputes feuds, raids and ceremonies. While disease known as kuru has developed which results women stay in small hut along with their children, to death among them. Initially this ritual was doing agricultural works and nurturing the pigs. carried out for showing their love and affection to One of the unique features of their culture was the deceased which involves eating of brain by the rituals associated with cannibalism signifying the women and children and remaining parts by the their affection and loves t o their death kin’s thereby males. Since the was already affected and at consuming their death bodies on which brain was the same time were not thoroughly cooked, the eaten by the women and children and rest part of virus present in the victim brain does not die the body was consumed by the males .However the permanently leading to distortions of proteins degree of consuming the meat also varies causing malfunctioning and lack of coordination to depending upon their belief due to which each the due to which brain does not portion of meet are distributed correctly based on function as it is intended to coordinate for various f the gender. As such men do not consumed the brain activities. Even after 50 yrs. of research still now because they believe that it will weaken the scientists does not a proper explanation on how strength during the course of fighting. On the other exactly prion has developed in the human brain and hand women consumed the brain because they what was the initial stage of inheriting the prion believe that the death kin are giving blessing to and how exactly it has emerged .Based on the their family which will led them to have prosperous record the last kuru to be reported in medical life and at the same time, giving indication that history was 2005 but still it does not give us a they are always present among them. Usually the confirmation that the disease has been entirely wipe meat is crushed and put inside the bamboo along out since the incubation period is long which can with some plants or other substances and then be emerged in the future generation. roasted or heated on the fire.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Biological Factors of Kuru disease: be divided into acquired, sporadic and inherited forms. Over a decade scientific study of kuru disease has been a limelight in the field of research and many Acquired prion: experiment and research has been carried out by various biological and social scientists based on Kuru is the most well-known example of acquired laboratory and observation. This studies of kuru prion disease that results from exposure to human disease draw attention when virologist and prion by the practice of cannibalism. Susceptibility anthropologist Carleton Gajdusek make a first visit to this disease is associated with homozygosis for to South Fore in 1957 for a period of 10 months. methionine at PRNP codon 129. As stated above, After identifying the disease he then devote his heterozygosis on this codon is protective. A novel entire life in finding the solution to as well as PRNP variant G127V polymorphism is recognized in quest of its origin due to which he was awarded as an acquired prion disease for kuru epidemic. Noble prize for physiology of in 1976 for There is no evidence for vertical of his immense contribution. While carrying out the kuru. research, various hypotheses has been put forward Other examples of acquired prion disease include by scientists in order to explain nature of disease iatrogenic CJD and VCJD. Iatrogenic CJD has in innumerable ways like genetic, infectious, been caused by implantation of Dura mater grafts, sociological, behavioral, toxic, endocrine, treatments using growth hormone derived from nutritional, and immunologic ,with immune pituitary glands of human cadavers, corneal plausible explanation of understanding the transplantation, contaminated symptoms within limited group of South Fore ,New electroencephalographic (EEG) electrodes, and Guinea.(Alpers 1970:134) surgical operations using some instrument. VCJD However one of the major limitation while was recognized in the United Kingdom in 1995 and studying the nature of disease was mutation is caused by same prion strain that causes BSE in ,composed of either dominant or partly dominant cattle and other iatrogenic routes not involving mutation, emerge from an single individual as consumption of central nervous system tissue from original carrier from centuries and thus proliferate infected cattle. to existing descendent of Fore ethnic group in a recent years. And another hypothesis was the lethal Sporadic prion disease: gene responsible for the growth and development Approximately 85% of cases of human prion of genes causing death of an organism or an disease occur sporadically as sporadic CJD at a rate individual depending upon the types of alleles. of 1-2 cases per million populations per year Since human DNA is composed of genes which worldwide. It does not have a sexual predilection. codes messages for protein production, consisting The cause of sporadic CJD is unknown, although of complex molecules known as amino acids which hypotheses include somatic PRNP mutation or are responsible for proper functioning and spontaneous conversion of PrPC into PrPSC as a maintaining the body cells through hormones and rare stochastic event. there by acts a building blocks in our body. When Inherited prion disease: protein chain Approximately 15% of human prion diseases are

associated with autosomal dominant pathogenic are misfolded, the genes attack the cerebellum mutations in PRNP. The three main diseases that present in the brain which play an important role in fall in this category include GSS, familial CJD, and coordination and controlling the cellular body for FFI. Over 30 autosomal dominant pathogenic various activities and at the same time the PRNP mutations have been described and PRNP pathogen attack the genes producing a little analysis can be used for pre symptomatic genetic cavities which look like a sponge. Due to this, testing in affected families. prior proteins don’t contain nucleic acid thereby making our immune system weak and highly Stages of Kuru disease in biological view: resistance towards the foreign antigens. As a The clinical stage begins at the first onset of results many research has been carried out symptoms which lasts for an average of 12 months. enormously with an attempt to understand the The clinical progression of kuru is divided into disease better and also making an effort to invent a three specific stages, the ambulant, sedentary and medicine for curing the disease. Based on terminal stages. Stages of kuru may be varies etiological classification, human prion diseases can depending upon the individuals based on sex or age Before reaching the clinical symptoms,

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in individual may experienced pronominal symptoms individual shows signs of emotional instability and including headache and joint pain in the legs. depression, yet exhibits uncontrolled and sporadic laughter. Despite the other neurological symptoms, Stages of Disease: tendon reflexes are still intact at this stage. In the first (ambulant) stage, the infected individual In the third and final (terminal) stage, the infected may exhibit unsteady stance and gait muscle individual develops symptoms like ataxia, control, , difficulty in speech () , or difficulty in swallowing leading to and intubation. This stage is named because the and finally death. An infected person individual is still able to walk around despite usually dies within three months to two years after symptoms. the first terminal stage symptoms either because of or infection. Within three months to In the second (sedentary) stage, the infected two years after the first terminal stage symptoms individual in is unable to walk without support and either because of pneumonia or infection. suffers ataxia and severe tremors. Furthermore, the

Figure 1: Stages of Kuru Disease. (Source: own creation)

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Figure 2: Stages of Kuru Disease. (Source: Google) What are the Biological symptoms of psychosomatic and was caused by the trauma of kuru? western colonization and perpetuated by beliefs in sorcery and witchcraft. It was not until 1957 that Some commonly known Symptoms of cannibalism was investigated with data, by neurological disorders may exhibits similar to kuru Gajdusek, to be the cause of kuru. However, it was like Parkinson’s or stroke and symptoms may not considered a priority because it was thought to include such as: be too strange or evidence that theorized cannibalism as a cause lacked proper evidence. Difficulty in walking Cannibalism, however, was a reasonable enough explanation for kuru that the Australian Lack of proper coordination administration banned the practice of feasting on Difficulty in swallowing the dead, until it was nearly obsolete by 1960. As the number of cases of kuru decreased, those in Slurred speech medical research were able to properly investigate kuru, which then led to the modern proposition of Mood swings and behavioral changes prion being the cause of kuru. Dementia Kuru was first described in official reports by Muscle twitching and tremors Australian officers patrolling the Eastern Highlands of in the early 1950s.Some In ability to grasp objects unofficial account took place as early as 1910 In 1951,it was Arthur Carey who first used the term Random compulsive of laughing or crying ‘kuru’ in his report to describe a new disease Theoretical explanation of kuru: affecting the Fore tribes of Papua New Guinea. In his report, Carey noted that kuru mostly affect Fore Traditionally the origin of kuru is analogous with women, eventually killing them. In 1953, kuru was sorcery or witchcraft which is understood to be a observed by patrol officer John McArthur who psychosomatic or a mental factor without having a provided a description of the disease in his report. proper explanation. Another theory for causing McArthur believed that kuru was merely a kuru was cassowary disease known as Negi Negi. psychological episode resulting from the confirmed However this disease was believed to be caused by sorcery practices of the tribal people in the region. ghosts due to shaking and strange behavior. With It was not by the time that the Kuru disease had an attempt to cure kuru, patients were given pork spread into an epidemic when Daniel Carleton and casuarinas bark as part of their meal. Practice Gajdusek, a virologist, and Vincent ZIgas, a of cannibalism came into recognition prior to the medical doctor, first started doing scientific late 1950s, patrol officers thought that kuru was

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in research on the disease in 1957.However be inherited by consuming an infected brain or with ethnography was by anthropologists Ronald open wounds or sores of infected person. Berndt and Catherine Berndt. After that the disease was festered into a bigger epidemic in the western How is kuru diagnosed? world. Kuru can be diagnosed by doing constant clinical In effort to understand the pathology of Kuru checkup and by stopping cannibalism within the disease, Gajdusek established the first experimental group. tests on chimpanzees for Kuru at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The methods of the Neurological examination experiment would be to introduce the kuru brain Neurological examination includes investigation on material to the closest human relative, the medical history, neurological function, blood tests, chimpanzee, and to document the behaviors of until such as thyroid, folic acid level, liver and kidney death or a negative outcome would occur. Michael function tests .Tests such as electroencephalogram Alpers, an Australian doctor, collaborated with (EMG) are used to examine the electrical activity Gajdusek by providing the samples of brain tissues in your brain. Brain scans such as an MRI may be he had taken from an 11-year-old Fore girl who had performed, but they may not be helpful in making a died of Kuru. In his work he also highlights Kuru definitive diagnosis. disease in his first bibliography. Gajdusek was joined by a man named Joe Gibbs to monitor and Mortality/Morbidity: record the behavior of the apes and conduct autopsies. Within two years, one of the chimps, There is no effective treatment for kuru. It occurs Daisy, had developed kuru, demonstrating that the within 4-24 months after being infected and the unknown disease was transmitted through infected incubation period may be as short as 5 years or as biomaterial and that it was capable of crossing the long as 50 years. species barrier to other primates. After confirmation from Elisabeth Beck, this experiment Race: brought about the first conducted transmission of Kuru and was deemed an very important finding in Kuru is only affected to the Fore linguistic group of the advancement of human medicine leading to the the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea and award of a Nobel Prize to D. Carleton Gajdusek in their neighbors with whom they intermarried. The 1976 practice of cannibalism was an important part of rituals to the signifying respect to their Subsequently, E. J. Field spent large parts of the dead relatives. But latter on when it was discovered late 1960s and early 1970s in New Guinea that this rituals developed a rare disease causing investigating the disease, connecting it to death to 200 people every year then the Australian and . He noted similarities in the government took an initiative steps by the diseases interactions with glial cells, including the establishing a Okapa patrol post in 1954 as one of critical observation that the infectious process may the first administrative work for controlling the depend on structural rearrangement of the host's disease . By 1956, endo cannibalism was molecules. This was an early observation of what effectively eliminated. Surreptitious eating of dead was to later become the prion hypothesis. relatives was reported in remote communities for some years afterward, but by the end of the 1950s, What are the Biological causes of kuru? the practice had effectively ended. Epidemiological surveillance for kuru began in 1957 and has Kuru belongs to a class of diseases called continued ever since today. transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSEs) known as prion. It primarily affects the cerebellum Sex: of the brain responsible for coordination and maintaining the cellular mechanism of the brain. Kuru are found more dominant on women and Unlike the infectious agents, kuru is not caused by children and the proportion of an affected males is a bacteria, virus, or fungus. It is caused due to relatively low of 2% of overall cases from 1957- abnormality of proteins known as prion which are 1958. in distorted shapes. Normally Prion is not present among living organisms and hence they do not Age: reproduce. Diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, and fatal The latest year of birth recorded for any patient with kuru was 1959; only 9 individuals with kuru familial insomnia are some other degenerative are recorded as having been born since 1956. diseases caused by prion .However this disease can During the peak of the epidemic, it was estimated

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in that most of the affected individuals were young Earlier the institute focused on respiratory diseases, women but only a small number of children and pigbel (clostridia necrotizing enteritis) and kuru. post-menopausal women were also found to be Since then many initiatives program has been infected. launched in various fields around the globe. Further the institute has also four units which are given What are the treatments for kuru? below.

Even after conducting intensive research by Vector Borne Disease Unit various scientists for almost 65 years still there is no cure for kuru and one of the reason for this due The unit focuses on research into malaria and to the incubation period which is longer than the lymphatic filariasis. Most activities are other disease. As a result in course of time prion concentrated Madang and Maprik branches. The get mature and affect the whole body parts which unit has molecular and immunological laboratories, ultimately leads them to death. large research microscopy section and an entomology laboratory which conducts clinical What is the outlook for kuru? trials with anti-malarial drugs. People suffering from kuru require assistance to Infection and Immunity Unit stand, move and ability to swallow and eat. As there is no cure for affected people sometimes it This unit conducts research into enteric diseases may also lapse into a coma for six to 12 months like cholera and respiratory problem, pneumonia after experiencing initial symptoms. The disease is and tuberculosis. Besides they also conduct fatal and it’s best to prevent it by avoiding continuous surveillance of suspected cases of kuru exposure. Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit How can I prevent kuru? This is the second unit emerged from previous Kuru is exceptionally rare contracted by ingesting Operational Research Unit conducting clinical, infected brain tissue. Governments and societies laboratory and social research into sexually work together in collaboration to prevent the transmitted including HIV/AIDS, and disease in the mid-20th century by discouraging the other sexual and reproductive health issues. practice of cannibalism and with that the disease has almost vanished to some extent. Environmental and Emerging Diseases Unit Today, kuru is rarely diagnosed. Symptoms similar to those of kuru more likely indicate another This is most recent established unit that deals with serious or spongiform environmental pathogens and infectious diseases disease. Due to kuru long incubation period the such as cholera and . This unit is disease has lingered. However, the epidemic has interdisciplinary and translational compromising of declined from 200 deaths per year in 1957 to 1 or various dimensions from different fields like no deaths annually in 2005 . epidemiology, microbiology, immunology, entomology, medical anthropology, molecular Organizations and their activities: genetics, biostatistics, public health, and demography Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research is a statutory body established in 1968.Its Its headquarters is in Goroka which is also a house headquarters with offices and laboratories are of editorial office of Papua New Guinea Medical located at Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province and Journal- a peer-reviewed scientific periodical another major branch is located at Yagaum, near publication by the Medical Society of PNG. the coastal town of Madang. The Institute also has Besides Electronic versions of Journal's other branches and offices in Maprik and Wewak publications can be obtained through institute (East Sepik Province) and in its capital Port Mores. website. Initially this institute was formulated by the Government of Australia by the act of parliament, Funding: focusing on the health issue of people particularly the South Fore through various activities and The institute receives funds in collaboration from research thereby bringing improvement and Government of Papua New Guinea and AusAID solution of a desired disease. The main aim of the focusing mainly on future research for advanced institute is to understand the disease process and studies. Other than that they also receive funds constraints changes by examining the host factors from overseas agencies like Bill & Melinda Gates and the agents causing the disease Foundation, the Australian National Health and

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Medical Research Council, the U.S. National To accomplish goal NINDS supports and conducts Institutes of Health (NIH), the Global Fund to Fight basic translational and clinical research for both AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health normal and affected person and then look for a Organization, the Swiss National Science treatment which can enhance further development Foundation and several others in a contractual of a patients. On the other hand they also provides basis. In the last two years, the PNG Liquefied training for investigators in basic and clinical Natural Gas (PNG LNG) project has also lend neurosciences and seeks better understanding about their support by providing infrastructural schemes the disease, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of and carried out the research in analyzing the health neurological disorders. issues and its impact for assessment on a large scale. Basic research pursues an understanding of the normal and abnormal structure and activities of the National Institute of Neurological human nervous system. The knowledge gained Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) Mission from this research creates the foundation for diagnosing and treating brain disease. Some The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental important areas of NINDS basic research include: knowledge about the brain and nervous system and biology of the cells of the nervous system, brain make effective use of knowledge to reduce the and nervous system development, genetics of the burden of neurological disease. brain, cognition and behavior, neuro- degeneration, brain plasticity, repair, neural signaling, learning, Support and its assistance: memory, motor control and integration, sensory function, neural channels, synapses, and circuits. Supports and assistance includes timely scientific The great challenge of modern neuroscience is to research on translational, clinical neuroscience, translate the remarkable findings of basic science meetings, training and career development into useful therapies for those who suffer the programs for increasing more awareness about the devastating effects of neurological disorders. To disease and also educates the expertise as well as facilitate this translation, NINDS supports many the local so as to ensure vibrant, talented and specific research projects and research resources diverse work force and also minimize the barriers that accelerate preclinical therapy development. responsible for causing the agents. Clinical research applies directly to mechanisms of For more information about the mission and the diseases of the nervous system which can be activities of NINDS, see the NINDS OVERIEW. translated into disease detection, prevention, and treatment, such as studies of brain imaging NINDS Overview: techniques, trials to test new drugs, and The National Institute of Neurological Disorders development of novel therapies such as stem cell and Stroke (NINDS) conducts and supports implants and gene transfer. Some key areas of research on brain and nervous system disorders NINDS clinical research include: neurological launch by the U.S. Congress in 1950, NINDS is consequences of AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, brain one of the biggest research institutes having centers tumors, developmental disorders, epilepsy, motor like National Institutes of Health (NIH) and etc. neuron diseases, muscular dystrophies, multiple The NIH is also located in Bethesda, Maryland, an sclerosis, neuro -genetic disorders, pain, agency of Public Health Service within the U.S. Parkinson’s diseases, other neurodegenerative Department of Health and Human Services. For disorders, sleep disorders, spinal cord injury, more than 50 years NINDS has occupied a central stroke, and traumatic brain injury. position in the world of neuroscience and more Most NINDS-funded research is conducted by than 600 disorders due to the nervous system has extramural scientists in public and private been identified and reported. Common disorders institutions, such as universities, medical schools, such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and and hospitals. NINDS intramural scientists, autism are well-known and other neurological working in the Institute’s laboratories, branches, disorders are rare and known to few individuals and clinics, also conduct research in most of the and family .Therefore NINDS conduct research for major areas of neuroscience and on many of the clues to understand the function and mechanism of most important and challenging neurological the brain and also at the same time and focus on the disorders. solution for finding solution for specific diseases. Neurological disorder estimates about 50 millions Besides that they also focus on various dimension of Americans citizen each year exacting an citing as an inter-displinary research in a broad incalculable personal toll and spending billions of sense. The Institute collaborates with other NIH dollars in medical expenses and productivity. components, as well as with other federal agencies

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in with voluntary, professional and commercial Gajdusek D.C 1996 Kuru: From New Guinea field organizations. journals 1957-1962. Grand Street, 15:6-33. NINDS also commit to strengthen the foundation Gajdusek D.C, Gibbs C.J and A..Michael 1966 of neuroscience in years ahead and for achieving Experimental transmission of a Kuru-like the goal, more research on training and Syndrome to Chimpanzees, National Institute of development is carried out for next generation of Health, Nature Page no 209:794. neuroscientists. In addition, NINDS serves as a prime source of neurological information for Almond J.W 1998 Bovine spongiform scientists, clinicians, and the public. encephalopathy and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Volume 54(3) Page no 749-59. For more information please visit our website at www.ninds.nih.gov or contact the Institute’s Brain Gajdusek DC 1976 Unconventional Virus and Resources and Information Network (BRAIN). Origin and Disappearance of kuru, National Institute of Health page no 307 -350. Conclusion: J.Collinge 2001 Prion diseases of humans and Since the discovery of the kuru epidemic in New animals: their causes and molecular basis. Annual Guinea, a vast amount of knowledge has been review Neuroscience, National Institute of Health gained concerning prion diseases. The specific Page no 519-550. dynamics of the kuru disease are important to Belay E.D, Schonberg L.B 2005 Public Health realize in order to better understand all prion Impact of Prion Diseases. Annual Review of Public diseases. Scientists admit that there is still a lot of Health. 2005. Page no-191-212 work is needed to covered this area of research. Numerous questions have been answered, yet many Dr. Coles 2017 Ancient Cannibals Didn’t Eat Just puzzles still remain to be solved. A large amount of for the Calories, Study. Posted in New York the work done in an attempt to understand prion Times. On April 2017. diseases and with this many research was been carried out by anthropologists in the field studying Liberski, P. P. (2013). Kuru: A Journey Back in the Fore. Their contributions to this research have Time from Papua New Guinea to the ’ played a vital role in eliminating the disease in Extinction. Pathogens, 2(3), 472–505 New Guinea and therefore many cases for kuru were not found in the recent years. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/kuru/kuru.html. REFERNCES

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-4, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

KURU DISEASES PHOTO GALLERY

FIGURE (1)

FIGURE (2) FIGURE (3)

FIGURE 1: Kuru Effected Part in Brain FIGURE 2: Ancient Group Cannibalism FIGURE 3: Modern Group Cannibalism

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