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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Recognition of the Non-Alzheimer’s Dementias: Highlights from the University of Toronto Behavioural Neurology Clinic Day

Recognition of the Non-Alzheimer’s Dementias: Highlights from the University of Toronto Behavioural Neurology Clinic Day

Teaser: 

David J. Gladstone, BSc, MD, FRCPC; Lorne Zinman, MD, FRCPC; Jodie Burton, MD; Leanne Casaubon, MD; David Chan, MD; Neil Cashman, MD, FRCPC; Sandra E. Black, MD, FRCPC; Morris Freedman, MD, FRCPC.
From the Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

At the Third Annual University of Toronto (U of T) Behavioural Neurology Clinic Day for residents, fellows and other trainees, presentations were given by faculty members from the U of T Department of Medicine (Divisions of Neurology and Geriatric Medicine) and the Department of Psychiatry. Highlights of this educational event are summarized herein by residents in the neurology training program.
Key words: dementia, diagnosis, fronto-temporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, vascular dementia.

Diagnosis and Management of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Diagnosis and Management of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Teaser: 

Chris MacKnight, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax. NS.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is rare, occurring in one per million people. It is difficult to eradicate from contaminated instruments, and so is important to recognise for infection control reasons. As well, there is much interest in possible changes in the epidemiology of this disease, and so familiarity is necessary among all physicians. Sporadic CJD presents in the young-old with a rapidly progressive dementia, while variant CJD presents in younger patients, initially with psychiatric symptoms. Electroencephalography, MRI and 14-3-3 protein testing are all helpful in the diagnostic process. There is no recognised therapy as yet.
Key words: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prion, dementia.