neurodegenerative

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) is an incurable, always fatal, disease belonging to the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) group, also known as prion diseases. Early symptoms include memory problems, behavioral changes, poor coordination, visual disturbances and auditory disturbances. Later symptoms include , involuntary movements, blindness, deafness, weakness, and coma. About 70% of sufferers die within a year of .

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Symptoms — what it feels like

·Initial presentation is very variable, but the disease always progresses to akinetic mutism
·Classic CJD: Global decline (), amnesia, acalculia, alexia, behavioral changes, aphasia, myoclonus, ataxia, pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs
·(3 to 12 months life expectancy)
·Pure : Amnesia, loss of executive functioning, aphasia, behavioral changes, resembles Alzheimer's disease
·(6 to 12 months Life expectancy)
·Ataxic : Ataxia, pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, most common with iatrogenic CJD, resembles kuru

Causes — why it happens

·Type 1 or type 2 PrP
·CJD

How it's found

·Based on symptoms and medical tests after other possible causes are ruled out

Prevention

·Gene editing of children at risk (for fCJD), proper sterilization of surgical equipment (for iCJD)

Treatment

·Untreatable; supportive care

Complications

· due to difficulty coughing and swallowing

Outlook

·100% , life expectancy varies from 3 months to multiple years

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.