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What causes BSE?

There are different theories regarding the cause of BSE as well as the agent of the disease. According to one theory, the agent consists of “ changed prions”. “Prion” is actually a generic term for various proteins found naturally mostly in the brain, but also in many other tissues, of humans and animals. "Changed" prions are prions that have changed or been distorted in some way so that they are capable interacting with other normal prions and induce their conversion to them, mostly in the brain and the central nervous system. A number of other factors are thought to influence whether or not normal prions turn into “changed prions” and research in this area is continuing.