Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Essay

Because CJD is incurable, once the patient has contracted the disease, the deterioration of the brain process begins. Symptoms of CJD are very similar to like diseases, so many parts of the brain are effected. The prion protein, which is found throughout the body but has an unknown function, begins to twist and fold into a three-dimensional shape. It causes proteins in the brain to bend into the same three-dimensional shape. Mutated proteins destroy brain cells, resulting in a rapid decline in the thinking and reasoning process, as well as involuntary muscle movements, confusion, difficulty walking and mood changes. These are typically symptoms that carry on throughout the process (Signs and Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
The incubation period is the amount of time it takes to become sick after a disease is contracted. For example, after influenza is contracted, it usually takes about a day or two to start showing symptoms. The incubation period for CJD is considerably longer, taking years or even decades for a person with CJD to start showing symptoms. During the early stages of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a patient can expect the same symptoms to reoccur and worsen. Symptoms worsen much more rapidly in CJD patients (Signs and Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). In sporadic CJD, symptoms appear “out of the blue”. Early
Within months of psychiatric symptoms, neurological problems also occur. These problems usually include poor balance and clumsiness. Abnormal movements, such as restless, dance like movements may be apparent. Typically, myoclonus (jerky muscle movements) appear in later stages. Confusion and memory loss develop into dementia, and a person may even stop speaking. Other signs of vCJD can include tremors, muscle paralysis, sensations of cold or pain, and a sense that the skin feels sticky (Signs and Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob