CJD case reports reveal varied symptoms and delayed diagnoses
A case report and literature review examined how Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease was initially mistaken for other conditions.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The selected reports describe people whose CJD diagnosis was delayed or initially incorrect. Reported diagnostic delays ranged from 1 to 18 months. Behavioral changes, cognitive difficulties and movement signs appeared among the presentations. This collection illustrates diagnostic challenges; it cannot estimate how often CJD is missed or how likely these symptoms are to indicate it.
The review selected reports involving diagnostic problems, so it cannot represent all CJD cases or establish how accurately any symptom distinguishes CJD from other conditions.
Why the diagnosis was difficult
Initial alternatives included psychiatric worsening, stroke, epilepsy and autoimmune encephalitis. The authors described a broad range of early presentations, which helps explain why patients could be evaluated by different specialties before CJD was considered.
What the individual case adds
The reported diagnosis drew on the presentation and clinical course, brain imaging and a protein marker. The abstract does not evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these features or test a strategy for reducing delays.
The original publication
Case Report: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and diagnosis challenges: case report and evidence synthesis.
Failoc Rojas VE, Yazawa-Ballena Y, Alvarado-Moreno G et al.
F1000Res · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41509103
- Record checked
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