Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (pronunciation: /ˈkrɔɪtsfɛlt ˈjɑːkoʊb/ etymology: named after Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt and Alfons Maria Jakob, the neurologists who first described the disease) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one in every one million people worldwide.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease include rapid onset of memory problems, behavioral changes, lack of coordination and visual disturbances. As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes pronounced, and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities, and coma may occur.

Causes

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused by prions, which are proteins that can fold in multiple, structurally distinct ways. Some of these lead to diseases in humans and animals. Prion diseases are usually rapidly progressive and always fatal.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is based on a number of tests, including neurological examination, spinal fluid tests, brain scan, and sometimes brain biopsy. There is no single diagnostic test for CJD.

Treatment

There is no treatment that can cure or control Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Current treatment methods are focused on alleviating symptoms and making the patient as comfortable as possible.

Related Terms

See Also

External links

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