Creutzfeldt–Jacob Disease (CJD) is a rare degenerative disease of the brain. There are around 300 cases in the United States per year (NIH). CJD is also referred to as “mad cow” disease, this is because they carry the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) (NIH). TSEs are caused by prions.
In the brain, there are proteins called prions. Prions occur when a normal protein changes their shape which changes their function and are also capable of multiplying (NIH). There are two ways that CJD can be tested for. There is Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Often, both are used when testing for CJD. As well as EEG and MRI, also in the cerebrospinal fluid, one can find the protein 14-3-3 (Al-Ansari & Robertson). …show more content…
According to Mahawish the main features are cognitive decline (dementia), loss of ability to control body movements (ataxia), and myoclonus which can be seen as twitching/jerking. The average age for sCJD is 65 with 4.5 months being the amount of time left before the average person with this disease dies (Mahawish). The most noticeable changes are in the limbic systems in this type (Mahawish). In Heidenhain variant CJD, the symptoms early on are perception issues (vision, noticing where things are) and hallucinating. The average age for HvCJD is 65 with 5.7 months being the amount of time left before the average person with this disease dies. Although in the case study discussed she passed two weeks after leaving the hospital, but she had been misdiagnosed with a stroke (Mahawish). The exact timespan of when HvCJD started for her is unclear. In variant CJD, the symptoms early on that are common are anxiety and depression. Mahawish says the main features are dementia and paresthesia (feeling of pricking on the skin). The average age for vCJD is much younger than the others at just 26 with a timespan of 14 months typically before death. There is major change in the hypothalamus in the brain, but the cerebral cortex and cerebellum are also impacted
In the brain, there are proteins called prions. Prions occur when a normal protein changes their shape which changes their function and are also capable of multiplying (NIH). There are two ways that CJD can be tested for. There is Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Often, both are used when testing for CJD. As well as EEG and MRI, also in the cerebrospinal fluid, one can find the protein 14-3-3 (Al-Ansari & Robertson). …show more content…
According to Mahawish the main features are cognitive decline (dementia), loss of ability to control body movements (ataxia), and myoclonus which can be seen as twitching/jerking. The average age for sCJD is 65 with 4.5 months being the amount of time left before the average person with this disease dies (Mahawish). The most noticeable changes are in the limbic systems in this type (Mahawish). In Heidenhain variant CJD, the symptoms early on are perception issues (vision, noticing where things are) and hallucinating. The average age for HvCJD is 65 with 5.7 months being the amount of time left before the average person with this disease dies. Although in the case study discussed she passed two weeks after leaving the hospital, but she had been misdiagnosed with a stroke (Mahawish). The exact timespan of when HvCJD started for her is unclear. In variant CJD, the symptoms early on that are common are anxiety and depression. Mahawish says the main features are dementia and paresthesia (feeling of pricking on the skin). The average age for vCJD is much younger than the others at just 26 with a timespan of 14 months typically before death. There is major change in the hypothalamus in the brain, but the cerebral cortex and cerebellum are also impacted