Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is an illness of the nervous system that causes damage to the brain. (The disease is named after 2 German scientists). CJD is fatal, and there is no known cure. CJD is caused by an... » Read on

The initial symptoms of CJD are psychological. A common initial symptom is depression. The condition progresses rapidly, and other symptoms soon appear. In sporadic CJD, these tend to be confusion and... » Read on

CJD is caused by an infectious protein - a prion. Proteins are molecules made up of acids, that help the cells in our body to function. The exact role of proteins in our brain is unknown, but it is... » Read on

The only definitive diagnostic test for CJD is to look at brain tissue. Brain tissue can be examined during life - a brain biopsy - or after death, during a... » Read on

Since the link between BSE and CJD was confirmed, strict controls have been in place to stop BSE entering into the human food chain. These controls include: A ban on feeding farm animals... » Read on