A Rare Case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease With Alcohol Use Disorder and Review of Literature

Abstract

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder, accounting for a majority of the sporadic prion disease burden. This disorder rapidly progresses and is often fatal with no known cure. Initial diagnosis may be delayed due to its varied presentations, which can include psychiatric changes (behavioural and mood variances), visual and auditory hallucinations, cerebellar dysfunction, and pain, occurring in isolation in many cases. Due to the nonspecific complaints, accurate diagnosis can be challenging. CJD exhibits symptoms similar to other neuropsychiatric illnesses; however, only a few reports have been published concerning the association between CJD and alcohol-related illnesses. This case report demonstrates the challenge of diagnosing this disorder early in the clinical course given the variable presentation, especially in a patient with a history of an alcohol use disorder, falls, and cognitive decline.

Keywords: acute dementia; alcohol disorder; cjd; creutzfeldt–jakob disease; prion disease; scjd; sporadic creutzfeldt–jakob disease.

Figure 1. Axial diffusion-weighted MRI showing hyperintensities

Bilateral cortical high signal intensities, more prominent on the left side (arrow)

Figure 2. Axial diffusion-weighted MRI showing hyperintensities

Abnormal high signal intensities in the occipital and parietal regions of the cortex (arrow)