Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease

Sporadic CJD is the most common form of CJD, and usually occurs in people over the age of 40 years, most often between 50 to 70 years. The cause of sporadic CJD is unknown. Health care acquired CJD has occurred worldwide as a result of a few specific medical treatments mostly involving brain tissue. Once CJD was identified as a hazard, the use of these treatments was stopped. Ten deaths have occurred from health care acquired CJD in Australia, but none since 1991. Familial (genetic) CJD is extremely rare. It accounts for 5-15% of classical CDJ cases and there is usually a family history of the illness.