Huntington's spreads like 'fire in the brain.' Scientists say they've found the spark

In Huntington's disease, proteins form toxic clumps that kill brain cells. (Stowers Institute for Medical Research)

Diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's are caused by toxic clumps of proteins that spread through the brain like a forest fire.

Now scientists say they've figured out how the fire starts in at least one of these diseases. They've also shown how it can be extinguished.