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Peer-reviewedCC BYCureus

When Psychosis Masks Neurodegeneration: A Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

  • Gayathri Jayakumar1
  • Eraj Rahman2
  • Radhiya Ms Bakth3
  • Abdurahman Moalin2
  • Mosab Yousif2
  1. 1Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, GBR.
  2. 2Acute Medicine, Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, GBR.
  3. 3Geriatrics, Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, GBR.
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Abstract

We present a diagnostically challenging case of a 57-year-old male with new-onset persecutory delusions, hallucinations, functional decline, and gait instability following recent travel. While psychiatric features are recognised in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), they are often underappreciated as initial manifestations, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed recognition. Initially suspected to have a primary psychotic disorder, the patient's rapidly progressive course, neurological signs, characteristic MRI findings, and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) confirmed a diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). This case underscores the need to consider organic and neurodegenerative etiologies in patients with acute psychiatric symptoms and gait disturbance.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{jayakumar2026when,
  title = {{When Psychosis Masks Neurodegeneration: A Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.}},
  author = {Gayathri Jayakumar and Eraj Rahman and Radhiya Ms Bakth and Abdurahman Moalin and Mosab Yousif},
  journal = {Cureus},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.7759/cureus.116539},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898936},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - When Psychosis Masks Neurodegeneration: A Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
AU  - Gayathri Jayakumar
AU  - Eraj Rahman
AU  - Radhiya Ms Bakth
AU  - Abdurahman Moalin
AU  - Mosab Yousif
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/19
JO  - Cureus
DO  - 10.7759/cureus.116539
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898936
AB  - We present a diagnostically challenging case of a 57-year-old male with new-onset persecutory delusions, hallucinations, functional decline, and gait instability following recent travel. While psychiatric features are recognised in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), they are often underappreciated as initial manifestations, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed recognition. Initially suspected to have a primary psychotic disorder, the patient's rapidly progressive course, neurological signs, characteristic MRI findings, and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) confirmed a diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). This case underscores the need to consider organic and neurodegenerative etiologies in patients with acute psychiatric symptoms and gait disturbance.
SN  - 2168-8184
ER  -