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Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Neuropsychological profile in an extended series of cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

KARI HAWKINS ,
GURJIT CHOHAN ,
CHRISTOPHER KIPPS ,
ROBERT WILL  and
NARINDER KAPUR
KARI HAWKINS
Affiliation:
Neuropsychology Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge
GURJIT CHOHAN
Affiliation:
CJD Surveillance Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Edinburgh
CHRISTOPHER KIPPS
Affiliation:
Wessex Neurological Centre, Southampton
ROBERT WILL
Affiliation:
CJD Surveillance Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Edinburgh
NARINDER KAPUR*
Affiliation:
Neuropsychology Department, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Narinder Kapur, R3 Neurosciences, Box 83, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ. E-mail: narinder.kapur@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Neuropsychological data on an extended series of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) are presented, complementing earlier findings from smaller sample studies of this condition. Distinct neuropsychological features in this extended series included relatively preserved verbal knowledge, immediate verbal memory span, and elementary visual processing. This sparing contrasted with ubiquitous impairment in every vCJD patient on timed tests of verbal fluency and digit-symbol substitution. There were also high rates of impairment on tests of memory, and of visuoperceptual and visuospatial reasoning. Our findings lend support to the view that distinctive neuropsychological features may be one of the diagnostic markers of the condition. (JINS, 2009, 15, 807–810.)

Keywords

DementiaPrionSpongiformSubcorticalFluencyMemory
Type
Brief Communications
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 5 , September 2009 , pp. 807 - 810
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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References

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