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Cjd Essay

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CJD is a serious neurodegenerative disorder, a rare form of rapidly progressive dementia, with a 100% fatality within one to two years of onset. CJD belongs to a family of human and animal diseases known as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). It is believed to be caused by an abnormal isoform of a cellular glycoprotein known as the prion protein that becomes toxic in an abnormal form (CDC) although Dr. Campellone suggest other proteins may play a role in this disease as well. Although, it is so rare that only between one to every one million people worldwide are diagnosed. The three types of CJD are sporadic, familial, and acquired. First, there is sporadic this is the most common of the three, it occurs for unknown …show more content…

This confusion is due to the similarities of several other forms of dementia that can closely mimic CJD, many tests are ran for process of elimination since CJD is very difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of CJD are very similar to those of dementia, it’s a mental deterioration disease. Symptoms include but are not limited to issues with muscle coordination, personality changes, impaired judgement, thinking, and vision. Some individuals often develop involuntary muscle jerks called myoclonus, and many patients went blind. Pneumonia is also a huge issue that patients with CJD deal with resulting in death from infection. (CDC, Campellone, And Tidy C. D.) Throughout the many test with acyclovir, amantidine, antibiotics, antiviral agents, interferon and steroids to name a few none has shown consistent benefits therefore there are still no known cures for CJD (UCSF). Although Dr. Campellone believes there is hope in tetracycline and/or vaccinations to come soon. For the time being the only treatment available are prescribed to make the patient as comfortable as possible, drugs like clonazepam and sodium valproate may help relieve myoclonus or the irregular, jerking movements. Universities world wide are looking in all directions for help, like “Researchers at the UCSF Memory and Aging

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