Which demographic is typically affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder that typically affects individuals in their middle to late adult years. The majority of patients diagnosed with CJD are aged between 60 and 70 years. This demographic pattern is characteristic of the disease, as the incidence increases with age, making aged individuals the most commonly affected group.

While there are other forms of prion diseases that may emerge in different age groups, CJD itself predominantly manifests in older adults. The associated symptoms include cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and behavioral changes, which align with the common features seen in neurodegenerative conditions that typically arise in later life.

Other demographics, such as infants, young adults, or pregnant women, are not typically associated with CJD. For instance, infants have different neurodevelopmental conditions to contend with, while young adults and pregnant women present with various health issues that do not typically include the onset of this severe dementia-like syndrome.