A rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder that, in the early stages, is characterized by failing memory, behavioral changes, lack of coordination and visual disturbances. As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes pronounced and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities and coma may occur. CJD belongs to a family of human and animal diseases known as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) which can be sporadic (occur despite the absence of known risk factors for the disease), inherited or acquired by exposure to infected brain or nervous system tissue, usually through certain medical procedures. "Spongiform" refers to the characteristic appearance of infected brains, which become filled with holes until they resemble sponges under a microscope. CJD is the most common of the known human TSEs. The leading scientific theory is that CJD and the other TSEs are caused by a type of protein called a prion which occur in both a normal form, which is a harmless protein found in the body’s cells, and in an infectious form, which causes disease.
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