Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease? Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare and serious disease. It causes the brain to become spongy. This leads to dementia and death. CJD belongs to a group of rare diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases. These diseases can affect humans and animals. The best-known form of TSE is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or ‘mad cow’ disease. In Australia, there are about 35 cases of CJD each year. What causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease? CJD happens when infectious particles called prions damage your brain cells. A prion is a brain protein where the structure has changed. A