Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is an extremely rare disease of the brain believed to be caused by an infectious protein, which results in progressive forgetfulness, dementia and eventual death.

Early symptoms of CJD include anxiety, depression, withdrawal and other behavioral changes, progressing to forgetfulness and other memory impairment, with dementia in the late stages. 

The only known cases where CJD has spread from one person to another are a few rare cases of disease transmission caused by injection of human growth hormone or transplantation of human tissue. These medically-related means of transmission have now been reduced. 

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease occurs in both men and women all over the world, in about one person per million population. 

There is currently no treatment or cure for CJD.

Most cases of CJD seem to occur with no means of explanation and therefore cannot be prevented. People who have been in close contact with someone who has CJD are not at risk of the disease. 

For additional information, contact your health-care provider or local Public Health office.