Final answer:
Fatal familial insomnia primarily affects the thalamus, leading to the degeneration of neurons and glia, and disrupting sleep and other cognitive functions. This condition underscores the thalamus's key role in regulating neural signaling and consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the nervous system most affected by fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is the thalamus. FFI is a rare genetic disorder leading to the degeneration of thalamic neurons and glia. The thalamus plays a pivotal role as a gateway for sensory and motor signals to and from the cortex and is crucial in regulating consciousness, arousal, and sleep states. In FFI, the deterioration of the thalamus disrupts these functions, particularly sleep, which can lead to a variety of severe symptoms and eventually prove fatal.
The most affected part of the nervous system in fatal familial insomnia is the A. Thalamus.
Explain in 140 words: Fatal familial insomnia is a condition that primarily affects the thalamus, a central part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory and motor signals. The disease causes deterioration of neuron and glia cells within the thalamus, leading to impaired sleep, consciousness, and arousal regulation. The progressive damage to the thalamic region results in severe symptoms and is ultimately fatal, highlighting the thalamus's critical role in various neural functions.