How can speech and language pathologist help the early diagnosis of Creutzfeldt_Jakob Disease

Background and Aim : Creutzfeldt_Jakob disease (CJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and caused by a proteinaceous infectious agent called a prion results in the accumulation of prion protein (PrPsc) in the brain. Rapidly progressing dementia, ataxia and myoclonus are the manifestations of this disease, however, often CJD comprises a broader spectrum of clinicopathological variants. Also, some studies reported speech and language signs in CJD patients such as aphasia and speech apraxia. The early diagnosis of CJD remains challenging in some cases, especially when the clinical presentation is unusual. In clinical practice, an early diagnosis can minimize the morbidity and mortality of this disease and is mandatory to improve patients’ outcome in therapeutic trials. The aim of this study was to investigate how can speech and language pathologist help the early diagnosis of CJD.Methods : A review of the literature concerning speech and language characteristics of CJD was conducted using the databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Science Direct, Scopus, Web of science, Web of knowledge and Cochrane. Relevant studies were identified by two reviewers based on screened titles/abstracts and full texts.Results : Of the papers found on the basis of the keywords, 14 papers were selected. All of these were addressed to CJD’s speech and language signs and has been found one of the initial manifestations of CJD was language and speech difficulties that progressed worse. DifferentConclusion : According to the results of the review of studies, it is important for speech and language pathologist as a member of the medical community to be aware of the probable diagnosis of CJD among patients whose main complaints are rapid speech and linguistic progressive impairments, therefore, the quick referral of these patients to the neurologist is essential. Furthermore, it s best to consider the role of speech and language pathologist among specialists who are involved in the diagnosis of the CJD.

کلیدواژه ها:

Creutzfeldt_Jakob Disease ، speech and language pathologist ، early diagnosis