Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disorder. Initial symptoms often include memory impairment and muscle stiffness, which develop insidiously and progressively worsen over time. In more advanced stages, patients may experience behavioral changes, dementia, and in some cases, loss of vision and speech. Motor disturbances become increasingly pronounced, characterized by involuntary, jerky movements. Ultimately, individuals become entirely dependent on care and succumb to the disease.
CJD is caused by a misfolded form of a naturally occurring protein. The incidence is approximately one case per million people per year.
In 1996, it was discovered that the protein responsible for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, can be transmitted to humans. Due to the clinical and pathological similarities with CJD, this human form was termed variant CJD (vCJD). Since then, the original form has been referred to as classical CJD.
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