32 merry town
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease occurs on account of abnormal version of protein prion. The otherwise harmless protein becomes deadly in this disease. Symptoms are similar to those of Dementia and Alzheimer's. But it progresses much rapidly than the later.
It is autosomal dominant gene disease. Only one copy of affected gene is sufficient to cause the damage. There is 50% chance of passing to offspring if a person is the carrier.
There are two versions of Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease- Classic CJD and variant CJD (vCJD). Both of them are very rare. vCJD affects people at younger age and lasts for comparatively longer duration i.e. 12 to 14 months. Psychiatric symptoms which are not evident in classical CJD are prominent in vCJD.
Both of the diseases belong to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) group diseases which affect humans as well as animals.