Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease(CJD) is a form of progressive dementia characterized by loss of nerve cells and degeneration of nerve cell membranes leading to the production of small holes in the brain. CJD usually has rapid onset and decline. Early symptoms include lapses in memory, mood swings similar to depression, lack of interest and social withdrawal. The person may become unsteady on his/her feet. Later symptoms may include blurred vision, sudden jerking movements and rigidity in the limbs. Eventually, movement and speech are lost. The person may experience slurred speech and have difficulty swallowing.

There are four main types of CJD:

• Sporadic CJD
• Familial CJD
• Transmissible CJD
• Variant CJD

Variant CJD is believed to be caused by exposure to contaminated meat from cattle suffering from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or "Mad Cow" disease.

For additional information:

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease - Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation - includes disease information, and message board
• CJD Support Network - includes CJD Fact Sheets & links to related sites
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System (Canada) - produced by Health Canada, with information for families and physicians
• CJD Voice - includes fact sheets, Chatroom, Personal Stories
• NINDS Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Information Page - produced by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease - fact sheet by World Health Organization
• What is Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease? - fact sheet by Alzheimer's Society (UK)

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