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

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.116539

Authors: Gayathri Jayakumar, Eraj Rahman, Radhiya Ms Bakth, Abdurahman Moalin, Mosab Yousif

Institutions: Barts Health NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7213635169