Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

noun

Creutz·​feldt-Ja·​kob disease ˈkrȯits-ˌfelt-ˈyä-(ˌ)kōb- How to pronounce Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (audio)
variants or less commonly Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
: a rare progressive fatal encephalopathy caused by a prion and marked by development of porous brain tissue, premature dementia in middle age, and gradual loss of muscular coordination

Examples of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a Sentence

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Jones battled Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for nearly three years, according to Illinois. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 She was drawn to the topic after a neighbor and friend fell ill with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and died within weeks. Christie Wilcox, science.org, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hans G. Creutzfeldt †1964 German psychiatrist and Alfons M. Jakob †1931 German psychiatrist

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was in 1963

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Cite this Entry

“Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Creutzfeldt-Jakob%20disease. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

noun
Creutz·​feldt-Ja·​kob disease
variants also Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
: a rare progressive fatal prion disease marked by the development of porous brain tissue, premature dementia in middle age, and gradual loss of muscular coordination
abbreviation CJD

called also Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease

see variant creutzfeldt-jakob disease

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