kuru

n. A fatal prion disease of the central nervous system whose symptoms include ataxia, difficulty in balance and walking, squint, and tremors. It was prevalent among women and children in the Fore people in the highlands of New Guinea during the times they practiced cannibalism. It is caused by eating the brains of infected persons, a practice which was largely limited to women and children as the men ate the muscles of bodies and left the rest for women and children.