Was GHWB suffering from kuru disease?

https://www.apnews.com/680fef9f1cb14194baf40f162fb81b5d

This article claims he suffered from vascular parkinson’s disease. Which is basically the death of dopamine cells in the brain. Can not produce it.

https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/default.htm

Parkinsons Overview

Parkinson’s disease affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Parkinson’s disease symptoms include muscle rigidity, tremors, and changes in speech and gait. After diagnosis, treatments can help relieve symptoms, but there is no cure.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/22121251/

Vascular parkinsonism: what makes it different?

Review article

Gupta D, et al. Postgrad Med J. 2011.

Show full citation

Abstract

Vascular parkinsonism (VP) accounts for 2.5-5% of all cases of parkinsonism in various population based and clinical cohort studies. VP develops as a result of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease, so aetiologically it is classified as secondary parkinsonism. It has been variably referred to in the literature as arteriosclerotic parkinsonism, vascular pseudo-parkinsonism, and lower body parkinsonism. The most important consideration while making a diagnosis of VP should be to differentiate VP from Parkinson's disease (PD) because of prognostic and therapeutic implications. The salient clinical features in VP which differentiate it from PD are presentation with postural instability and falls rather than with upper limb rest tremor or bradykinesia; short shuffling parkinsonian gait in VP is accompanied by a wider base of stance and variable stride length (parkinsonian-ataxic gait), absence of festination, frequent occurrence of pyramidal signs, and early subcortical dementia. In a patient where the clinical features are suggestive of VP the clinical diagnosis can be supported by demonstration of

“diffuse white matter lesions”

and/or strategic subcortical infarcts in the MRI of the brain. The therapeutic options in VP are limited to levodopa, and a poor or non-sustained response to levodopa is another differentiating feature between VP and PD.

https://www.healthline.com/health/kuru

The name kuru means “to shiver” or “trembling in fear.” The symptoms of the disease include muscle twitching and loss of coordination. Other symptoms include difficulty walking, involuntary movements, behavioral and mood changes, dementia, and difficulty eating. The latter can cause malnutrition. Kuru has no known cure. It’s usually fatal within one year of contraction.

Another cause of the destruction of dopamine production and reception cells?

Meth

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/

Based upon videos of GHWB, i wouldn’t assume he was a heavy user of meth (but those teeth…) Also, he did have shakes and was unable to walk. Not saying this is conclusive proof, just that vascular parkinson’s does not adequately explain his disease.