Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Overview
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare and fatal condition that affects the brain. It causes brain damage that worsens rapidly over time.
Symptoms
Symptoms of CJD include: loss of intellect and memorychanges in personalityloss of balance and co-ordinationslurred speechvision problems andblindnessabnormal jerking movementsprogressive loss of brain function and mobility Most people with CJD will die within a year of the symptoms starting, usually from infection. This is because the immobility caused by CJD can make people with the condition vulnerable to infection. Read more about thesymptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseanddiagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Causes
CJD appears to be caused by an abnormal infectious protein called a prion. These prions accumulate at high levels in the brain and cause irreversible damage to nerve cells. While the abnormal prions are technically infectious, they're very different from viruses and bacteria. For example, prions aren't destroyed by the extremes of heat and radiation used to kill bacteria and viruses, andantibioticsor antiviral medicines have no effect on them. Read more about thecauses of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.