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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Central nervous system
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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Alternative Names: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy; vCJD Symptoms: Personality changes Hallucinations Muscle twitching Muscle stiffness Nervous, jumpy feelings Changes in gait (walking, locomotion) Lack of coordination -- stumbling, falls Speech impairment Poor enunciation (hard-to-understand speech or mumbling) Sleepiness Delirium or dementia develops rapidly Deterioration in all aspects of brain function Profound confusion, disorientation Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: Memory loss Anxiety, stress, and tension Signs and tests: Text Continues Below The rapid onset and progression of symptoms is what distinguishes CJD from most other dementias. The disorder involves rapidly progressive dementia, myoclonus (rapid and brief muscle contraction or "jerk"), and rigidity of the body. A neurological and motor system examination shows muscle twitching and spasm. There is a strong startle response. Muscle tone may be increased, or there may be weakness and muscle wasting (loss of muscle tissue). There may be abnormal reflexes or an increase in the response of normal reflexes. Examination of visual fields show areas of blindness that the person may not realize are present. There is loss of coordination related to visual-spatial perception changes and changes in the cerebellum, the area of the brain that controls coordination (cerebellar ataxia). Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>