What Are Signs And Symptoms of CJD?
At first, CJD can seem a lot like other diseases of the elderly. Symptoms include behavioral changes, confusion, difficulty remembering recent events, and loss of feeling in the arms, legs, or face. Patients may lose their balance or seem uncoordinated; they may have difficulty walking or have muscle jerks and spasms. A brain wave test (EEG) is often helpful in the diagnosis. Other special testing includes cerebrospinal fluid 14–3–3 protein and blood tests for genetic mutation. To be sure the person has died of CJD an autopsy must be done. The National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center provides free cerebrospinal fluid 14–3–3 protein tests, blood tests for genetic testing, autopsy arrangement and tissue examination.
