How Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Diagnosed? Diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Only a brain biopsy or an examination of brain tissue after death during autopsy can confirm (diagnose) the presence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, doctors often can make an accurate diagnosis based on the patient's medical and personal history, a neurological exam, and certain diagnostic tests.


A neurologist will carry out the tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or a brain tumor.


The neurological exam is likely to reveal characteristic symptoms as:

muscle twitching and spasms
abnormal reflexes

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What Are The Causes Of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)?


What Are The Risk Factors Of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)?


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How Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Diagnosed? Diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)


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coordination problems
people with CJD also may have areas of blindness and changes in visual-spatial perception

Tests to help detect CJD:

Electroencephalogram (EEG). Using electrodes placed on the scalp, this test measures the brain's electrical activity. People with CJD and vCJD show a characteristically abnormal pattern.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . It uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create cross-sectional images of the head and body. It is especially useful in diagnosing brain disorders.
Spinal fluid tests. Cerebral spinal fluid surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord. In a test called a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) doctors use a needle to withdraw a small amount of this fluid for testing. The presence of a particular protein in spinal fluid is often an indication of CJD or vCJD.
Tonsil biopsy. Scientists have learned that tissue from the tonsils tends to harbor evidence of vCJD. Examination of a sample of tonsil tissue may help diagnose vCJD. However, this method seems less reliable for other forms of CJD.
Genetic test. This is a simple blood test to see if there is a mutation (fault) in the gene that produces normal protein. A positive result may indicate inherited prion disease.
Brain biopsy. It is done under general anesthetic. A surgeon drills a tiny hole into the skull and removes a small piece of brain tissue using a very thin needle.


As a brain biopsy carries the risk of causing brain damage or seizures, it is only performed in a few cases, where there is a concern that the patient does not have CJD but some other treatable condition.


What Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)? What Is Mad Cow Disease?
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CDJ)? What Are The Complications Of CJD?
What Are The Causes Of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)?
What Are The Risk Factors Of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)?
How Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Transmitted? Can CJD Be Transmitted From Person To Person?
How Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Diagnosed? Diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
What Are The Treatment Options For Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)? Prevention Of CJD

Written by Stephanie Brunner