Mad Cow Disease was first discovered in Britain in 1986. It has since been discovered that the disease can be passed to humans if they eat infected meat. Although there have been no reports of Mad Cow Disease in the United States, either in cows or humans, the government has placed a ban on all meat from Great Britain as a precaution against the disease. Alzheimer's Disease is a degenerative brain disorder that eventually causes memory loss, disorientation, and confusion. Although there is no cure, research has been done to determine the causes for the debilitating disease.
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that results in seizures.
Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder which causes loss of muscle control, mental ability, and memory and which eventually results in death. Parkinson's disease causes tremors and muscle rigidity and also includes mental confusion and speech impairment. Polio has affected human populations for thousands of years although cases increased drastically in this century. A vaccine was developed that has almost completely eradicated the disease. The Bubonic Plague hit Europe in 1346 and wreaked havoc for four years, killing a third of the population.