Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a degenerative, fatal brain disorder in humans. Symptoms are initially psychiatric or sensory and include neurological abnormalities such as ataxia, dementia, and myoclonus. There is no known treatment for vCJD. Read more: Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) Article
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Weird Body Quirks: From Brain Freeze to Hiccupping See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
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Dementia
Dementia is defined as a significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. There are several different types of dementia, including cortical, subcortical, progressive, primary, and secondary dementias. Other conditions and medication reactions can also cause dementia. Dementia is diagnosed based on a certain set of criteria. Treatment for dementia is generally focused on the symptoms of the disease.
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Ataxia
Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination when a voluntary movement is attempted. There are many different types of ataxia (cerebellar, sensory, vestibular). Ataxia causes include heredity, genetic defect, or it may be acquired. Ataxia symptoms may include difficulty walking, slurring speech, fatigue, and difficulty using the hands and fingers. History and physical examination, blood tests, and CT and MRI scans may be used to help diagnose ataxia. The treatment and prognosis of ataxia depend on the underlying cause.
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Mad Cow Disease
Mad cow disease (or bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE]) is a fatal disease that attacks the central nervous system of adult cattle. Though the specific cause isn't known, it is speculated that infectious prions are the likely cause. Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease is found in people and is similar to BSE. A variation of this disease is thought to be caused by eating beef products from BSE-infected cattle.
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Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. CJD generally appears in the later years and runs a rapid course. Symptoms of CJD include failing memory, lack of coordination, visual disturbances, failing memory, blindness, weakness, and eventually coma. There are three major categories of CJD; 1) sporadic CJD, 2) hereditary CJD, and 3) acquired CJD. There is no cure for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
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