Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Definition

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a form of brain damage that leads to a rapid decrease in movement and loss of mental function.

Alternative Names

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; vCJD; CJD; Jacob-Creutzfeldt disease

Causes

CJD is caused by a protein called a prion. A prion causes normal proteins to fold abnormally. This affects other proteins' ability to function.

CJD is very rare. There are several types. The classic types of CJD are:

Sporadic CJD makes up most cases. It occurs for no known reason. It starts on average at age 65 years.

Familial CJD occurs when a person inherits the abnormal prion from a parent (this form of CJD is rare).

Acquired CJD includes variant CJD (vCJD), the form related to mad cow disease.

CJD may be related to several other diseases caused by prions, including:

Symptoms

CJD symptoms may include any of the following:

Exams and Tests

Early in the disease, a nervous system and mental exam will show memory and thinking problems. Later in the disease, a motor system exam (to test muscle reflexes, strength, coordination, and other physical functions) may show:

Loss of coordination occurs due to changes in the cerebellum. This is the area of the brain that controls coordination.

An eye exam shows areas of blindness that the person may not notice.

Tests used to diagnose this condition may include:

The disease can only be confirmed with a brain biopsy or autopsy. Today, it is very rare for a brain biopsy to be done to look for this disease.

Treatment

There is no cure for this condition. Different medicines have been tried to slow the disease, but none works well.

The goals of treatment include:

This may require monitoring and assistance in the home or in a care facility. Family counseling may help the family cope with the changes needed for home care.

People with this condition may need help controlling unacceptable or dangerous behaviors. This involves rewarding positive behaviors and ignoring negative behaviors (when it is safe). They may also need help getting oriented to their surroundings. Sometimes, medicines are needed to help control aggression.

It is helpful for people with CJD and their family to seek legal advice early on. Advance directive, power of attorney, and other legal actions can make it easier to make decisions about the care of the person with CJD.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outcome of CJD is very poor. People with sporadic CJD are unable to care for themselves within 6 months or less after symptoms begin.

The disorder is fatal in a short time, usually within 8 months. People who have variant CJD get worse more slowly, but the condition is still fatal. A few people survive for as long as 1 or 2 years. The cause of death is usually infection, heart failure, or respiratory failure.

The course of CJD is:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

CJD is not a medical emergency. However, early diagnosis and treatment may make the symptoms easier to control, give patients time to make advance directives and prepare for the end of life, and give families extra time to come to terms with the condition.

Prevention

Medical equipment that may be contaminated should be removed from service and disposed of. People known to have CJD should not donate a cornea or other body tissue.

Most countries now have strict guidelines for managing infected cows to avoid passing CJD to humans.

References

Bosque PJ, Tyler KL. Prions and prion disease of the central nervous system (transmissible neurodegenerative diseases). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 179.

Tee BL, Geschwind MD. Prion diseases. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 94.


Review Date: 8/28/2023
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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