There are no known methods to cure transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), although research is ongoing to find potential treatments. Some research shows promise in stopping the progression of TSE, but so far no potential ways of stopping or reversing the damage caused have been discovered.

Current treatments for TSE are entirely palliative (pain-relief related). The goal of this treatment is to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Pain medications are used as necessary. Bed-bound patients may be fed artificially (e.g., feeding tubes) and may receive intravenous fluids. Catheters may be used to drain urine and healthcare workers regularly shift the patient's position to prevent bedsores.

While prevention of TSE is often not possible (particularly with sporadic or inherited forms of the diseases), there are precautions that people can take to reduce their risks. Casual contact with an infected patient cannot spread TSE, but contact with certain infected body tissues (e.g., brain tissues, spinal fluids) can. Contact with these materials from an infected person need to be avoided. For example, direct superficial contact with the body of an autopsied TSE patient is not advised. The same risk of infection is not present if the body has not been autopsied.

No methods have been developed to detect the infectious agents (prions) of a TSE, particularly bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, mad cow disease), in food. When present, these infectious prions are very difficult to destroy. Standard cooking or irradiation techniques, which can kill most viruses and bacteria, are not effective. Since contaminated food cannot be made safe, prevention relies on avoiding contaminated meat and meat byproducts. This includes halting the spread of BSE among cattle. The United States, United Kingdom and many other countries have put several strict regulations in place for this purpose.

While TSE can also be transmitted by contaminated medical supplies, this is very rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no cases of TSE related to medical equipment have occurred since the current medical sterilization procedures have become routine.