• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
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Fatal Familial Insomnia

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Last updated: 7/17/2023
Years published: 2018, 2023


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges James A. Mastrianni, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurology; Director, Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders, Committee of Neurobiology, University of Chicago; The Helen McLoraine Neuroscience Investigator of the Brain Research Foundation, for assistance in the preparation of this report.


Disease Overview

Summary
Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare genetic degenerative brain disorder. It is characterized by an inability to sleep (insomnia) that may be initially mild, but progressively worsens, leading to significant physical and mental deterioration. Affected individuals may also develop dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary or automatic body processes – which are things that happen without a person thinking about them, such as body temperature regulation, sweating, breathing or regulating the heart rate. Specific symptoms depend on the part of the autonomic nervous system that is affected by the disease. In all instances, FFI is caused by an abnormal variant in the prion-related protein (PRNP) gene, although sometimes, the disorder occurs randomly, without a variant PRNP gene (sporadic fatal insomnia, or SFI). The PRNP gene regulates the production of human prion protein. Alterations in this gene lead to the generation of abnormally shaped (misfolded) prion protein, also known simply as a “prion”, which is toxic to the body. In FFI, the abnormal prions build up primarily within the thalamus of the brain. This leads to the progressive loss of nerve cells (neurons) and the various symptoms associated with this disorder. There is no cure, but investigators are researching ways to best treat and manage FFI.

Introduction
FFI is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) or a prion disease. Prion diseases are caused by the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins in the brain. Two other prion diseases, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, may also occur because of variations of the PRNP gene, although some prion diseases occur in the absence of a genetic variation. Generally, prion disorders are characterized by long incubation periods and short clinical duration, which means the abnormal prions may accumulate for many years without causing symptoms (long incubation period), but once symptoms begin the disorder rapidly worsens.

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Synonyms

  • FFI
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Signs & Symptoms

The characteristic symptom in FFI is progressive insomnia. Insomnia often begins during middle age, but it can occur earlier or later in life. Insomnia may first be mild, but it then becomes progressively worse until an affected individual gets very little sleep. Insomnia usually begins suddenly and can rapidly worsen over the next few months. When sleep is achieved, vivid dreams may occur. The lack of sleep leads to physical and mental deterioration and the disease ultimately progresses to coma and death.

Although insomnia is usually the first symptom, some individuals may present with progressive dementia, in which there are worsening problems with thought, cognition, memory, language and behavior. Initially, the signs may be subtle and include unintended weight loss, forgetfulness, inattentiveness, problems concentrating or speech problems. Episodes of confusion or hallucinations can eventually occur.

Some affected individuals experience double vision (diplopia) or abnormal, jerky eye movements (nystagmus). There may be problems with swallowing (dysphagia) or slurred speech (dysarthria). Some individuals eventually have trouble coordinating voluntary movements (ataxia). Abnormal movements including tremors or twitchy, jerking muscle spasms (myoclonus), or Parkinson’s-like symptoms may also develop.

Additional symptoms involving dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system often develop. Specific symptoms can vary from one person to another based on the specific part of the autonomic nervous system affected. Common symptoms can include fever, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), high blood pressure (hypertension), increased sweating (hyperhidrosis), increased production of tears, constipation, variations in body temperature and sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction. Anxiety and depression are common findings as well.

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Causes

FFI is caused by an abnormal variant (gene mutation) of the PRNP gene. Genes provide instructions for creating proteins that play a critical role in many functions of the body. When a mutation of a gene occurs, the protein product may be faulty, inefficient, absent or overproduced. Depending upon the functions of the protein, this can affect many organ systems of the body, including the brain.

In rare instances, the change (variation) in the PRNP gene in individuals with FFI occurs spontaneously, without a family history of the disease. This is called a new or de novo variant. The gene variation has occurred at the time of the formation of the egg or sperm for that child only, and no other family member will be affected. The disorder is usually not inherited from or “carried” by a healthy parent. However, the person who has this de novo variant could pass on the variant gene to their children in an autosomal dominant manner.

Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of a mutated gene is necessary to cause the disease. The mutated gene can be inherited from either parent or can be the result of a changed gene in the affected individual. The risk of passing the mutated gene from an affected parent to a child is 50% for each pregnancy. The risk is the same for males and females.

Some individuals have developed fatal insomnia (FI) without a variation in the PRNP gene. These individuals are said to have sporadic fatal insomnia (SFI) and although this is a non-genetic form of FFI, the underlying trigger for its development is unknown. Thus, SFI occurs randomly, by chance, with a much rarer occurrence than FFI.

The PRNP gene produces a protein called prion protein, or PrP. The exact function of PrP in the body is not fully understood. However, because of the variant gene, the PrP that is produced develops an abnormal 3-dimensional shape that is described simply as “misfolded”. The misfolded PrP is toxic to the body, especially cells of the nervous system. In FFI, misfolded PrP is primarily found in the thalamus, which is a structure deep within the brain that helps to regulate many functions of the body including sleep, appetite and body temperature. As the misfolded PrP builds up in the thalamus, it results in a progressive destruction of nerve cells (neurons), which leads to the symptoms of the disorder. The damage to brain tissue may appear as sponge-like holes or gaps when examined under a microscope, which is why prion diseases like FFI are called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

The term “prion” was coined to designate a “proteinaceous infectious agent” to explain the transmissible nature of prion diseases. Extensive research has shown that a prion is essentially the misfolded PrP. However, it is important to know that FFI is not contagious in the traditional sense because the only way to transmit prion disease to a healthy individual is through direct exposure to disease-affected brain tissue, perhaps by ingestion or injection. If a person without an underlying genetic abnormality develops a prion disease because of exposure to prions from an external source, they are said to have an ‘acquired’ form. For example, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease occurred in the United Kingdom when people ate prion-contaminated beef. A lesser-known example is kuru. Kuru is a virtually extinct prion disease that occurred in the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. The disease spread throughout this population because of the villagers’ practice of eating the brains of deceased kuru-affected tribesmen (ritualistic cannibalism). All other forms of prion disease are considered “sporadic” and occur spontaneously in a patient.

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Affected populations

FFI is an extremely rare disorder. The exact incidence and prevalence of the disorder is unknown. The sporadic form of FFI, known as sporadic fatal insomnia (SFI), is extremely rare and has only been described in the medical literature in a few dozen people. Collectively, prion disorders affect 1 to 2 persons per million people in the general population per year. Genetic prion diseases are thought to make up about 15% of all individuals with prion diseases. Because rare diseases often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, it is difficult to determine their true frequency in the general population. FFI affects males and females in equal numbers. The average age of onset is 45-50 years old, although the disorder has been described in individuals in their teens and as late as their 70s. FFI has been described in populations around the world.

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Diagnosis

A diagnosis of FFI is based upon identification of characteristic symptoms, a detailed patient history, a thorough clinical evaluation and a variety of specialized tests.

Clinical Testing and Workup


Molecular genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis in some patients. Molecular genetic testing can detect an abnormal variant in the PRNP gene known to cause the disorder, but such testing is available only as a diagnostic service at specialized laboratories. In all cases of FFI, there will be an abnormal PRNP variant that is detectable, although negative genetic testing does not rule out SFI.

Polysomnography, also called a sleep study, may be performed to demonstrate a reduced amount of time sleeping and difficulties transitioning through the various sleep stages.

Positron emission tomography or PET scan is an advanced imaging technique that can be useful in diagnosing FFI or SFI. During a PET scan, three-dimensional images are produced that reflect the brain’s metabolic activity and can show reduced activity within the thalamus (thalamic hypometabolism), as a characteristic feature.

Other neuroimaging techniques include computerized tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT scanning is not useful in the diagnosis of FFI or prion disease, while the MRI can show some abnormalities in the scan that may support prion disease, although its application to diagnose FFI is not well characterized. However, MRI and CT may be helpful in ruling out other conditions that may mimic FFI or prion disease. During CT scanning, a computer and x-rays are used to create a film showing cross-sectional images of certain tissue structures. An MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce cross-sectional images of organs and body tissues.

Tests may be ordered to detect the presence of the 14-3-3 protein. This is a normal protein produced when nerve cells die. Sometimes in individuals with FFI, levels of this protein increase substantially in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the colorless fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and provides protection and support. Elevated levels of 14-3-3 in the CSF do not always occur, and normal levels of this protein does not rule out FFI. The tau protein is also often elevated in the CSF of prion disease, although because of the rarity of FFI, the usefulness of testing for tau in FFI is not fully understood. More recently, a test called RTQuIC (real-time quaking induced conversion), that helps to detect low levels of prions in CSF, is now being used to assist in the diagnosis of prion disease and may be useful for FFI, but there is currently not enough data on that.

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Standard Therapies

Treatment
There is no cure for FFI. Treatment is directed toward management of the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. Treatment may require the coordinated efforts of a team of specialists. Neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, pain specialists, social workers and other healthcare professionals may need to plan treatment systematically and comprehensively. Psychosocial support for the entire family is essential as well. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families.

There are no standardized treatment protocols or guidelines for affected individuals. Due to the rarity of the disease, there are no treatment trials that have been tested on a large group of patients. Various treatments have been reported in the medical literature as part of single case reports or small series of patients. Treatment trials would be very helpful to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of specific medications and treatments for individuals with FFI.

Symptomatic treatments include anti-seizure (anti-epileptics) medications for seizures or clonazepam for twitching movements (myoclonus). Affected individuals may be advised to discontinue any medications that worsen confusion, memory or insomnia.

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Clinical Trials and Studies

As of July 2023, there are currently no specific therapeutic trials for FFI. Only quinacrine, an antimalarial agent, was studied in a controlled clinical trial of prion disease but failed. A clinical trial to assess the safety and potential benefit of an agent against prion disease in general, is currently being planned to start within the near future.

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at https://clinicaltrials.gov/. All studies receiving U.S. Government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Tollfree: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/for-patients-and-families/information-resources/info-clinical-trials-and-research-studies/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
https://www.centerwatch.com/

For information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

Contact for more information about FFI:

University of Chicago Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders
Email: jmast@bsd.uchicago.edu

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References

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Lindsley CW. Genetic and rare disease of the CNS. Part I: fatal familial insomnia (FFI). ACS Chem Neurosci. 2017;8:2570-2572. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29258312

Saa P, Harris DA, Cervenakova L. Mechanisms of prion-induced neurodegeneration. Expert Rev Mol Med. 2016;18:e5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27055367

Burchell JT, Panegyres PK. Prion diseases: immunotargets and therapy. Immunotargets Ther. 2016;5:57-68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4970640/

Forloni G, Tettamanti M, Lucca U, et al. Preventive study in subjects at risk of fatal familial insomnia: innovative approach to rare diseases. Prion. 2015;9:75-79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4601344/

Geschwind MD. Prion diseases. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21:1612-1638. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879966/

Moody KM, Schonberger LB, Maddox RA, et al. Sporadic fatal insomnia in a young woman: a diagnostic challenge: case report. BMC Neurol. 2011;11:136. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3214133/

Holman RC, Belay ED, Christensen KY, et al. Human prion diseases in the United States. PloS One. 2010;5:e8521. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797136/

Mehta LR, Huddleston BJ, Skalabrin EJ, et al. Sporadic fatal insomnia masquerading as a paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome. Arch Neurol. 2008;65:971-973. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18625868

Mastrianni JA, Nixon R, Layzer R, et al. Prion protein conformation in a patient with sporadic fatal insomnia. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:1630-1638. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199905273402104

INTERNET
Zerr I, Schmitz M. Genetic Prion Disease. 2003 Mar 27 [Updated 2021 Jan 7]. In: Adam MP, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1229/ Accessed July 17, 2023.

Brown H, Lee JM. Diseases of the central nervous system caused by prions. UpToDate, Inc. Nov 09, 2021. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diseases-of-the-central-nervous-system-caused-by-prions Accessed July 17, 2023.

Khan Z, Bollu PC. Fatal Familial Insomnia. [Updated 2023 Feb 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482208/ Accessed July 17, 2023.

McKusick VA., ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). Baltimore. MD: The Johns Hopkins University; Entry No:600072; Last Update:09/23/2016. Available at: https://omim.org/entry/600072 Accessed July 17, 2023.

Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center. Fatal familial insomnia. Feb 2023 Available at: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6429/fatal-familial-insomnia Accessed July 17, 2023.

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