Brain Clutter Bytes Eats Your Brain

Eating human brains can be hazardous to your health, at least for most of us. A remote tribe in Papua New Guinea, practiced human cannibalism as part of a funeral rite. Yes, dead relatives would be eaten at funerals, something to do with absorbing the spirit of dearly departed loved one.

Unfortunately for this tribe, its population began to decline dramatically due to a strange disease that would afflict most of its population. The symptoms were similar to what is now known today as Creutzfeld-Jacob disease or what is commonly known as Mad Cow disease.

Upon further investigation, it was the consumption of human brains that would result in this very deadly disease known as Kuru. Scientists have recently discovered that not all of the people in this tribe succumbed to this disease. In fact, some had evolved an immunity to this disease. It is this immunity that scientist are looking into, to hopefully understand Mad Cow and will someday lead to a cure for both Creutzfeld-Jacob disease and Kuru. Although, if Kuru becomes a common disease, you will have other more pressing matters to worry about- Chianti anyone. Go to the podcast below for more on this research.

http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/09-10/qq-2010-01-23.html