Health's Book

Definition

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

Symptoms

* Rapidly developing delirium or dementia (over the course of a few weeks or months)
* Blurred vision (sometimes)
* Changes in gait (walking)
* Hallucinations
* Lack of coordination (for example, stumbling and falling)
* Muscle twitching
* Muscle stiffness
* Myoclonic jerks or seizures
* Nervous, jumpy feelings
* Personality changes
* Profound confusion, disorientation
* Sleepiness
* Speech impairment

CJD is rarely confused with other types of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease) because in CJD, symptoms progress much more rapidly. Both forms of CJD are distinguished by extremely rapid progression from onset of symptoms to disability and death.