We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Symptoms of Mad Cow Disease?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 33,854
Share

The symptoms of mad cow disease need to be clarified because there are types of this disease that are not linked at all to humans eating infected beef. This condition may be called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). When there is perhaps a tenuous link between mad cow and humans eating infected cows, the condition is called vCJD or a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob. One reason why this distinction is important is because it may slightly change expression of order of symptoms, and it should be noted that vCJD is still very rare, in many parts of the world. Most at risk are those who have had repeated exposure to infected beef, or who have had transplants or taken medications that might have include some bovine matter.

There are a number of symptoms of mad cow disease as it continues on its ultimately fatal path. Early symptoms especially with vCJD are often psychiatric in nature. They could include serious changes in mood, like development of anxiety and depression. Those with CJD are usually more likely to develop dementia early on, but this may be one of the later symptoms of true made cow disease or vCJD. vCJD might last in this early depressed or anxious state (or an oscillation between the two states) for up to a year before memory loss, concentration failure, and impaired cognitive function begin to emerge.

Other symptoms of this condition include insomnia for some people, which may fuel depression and anxiety. Muscle coordination deteriorates, and it may be especially noted that vision gets blurry over time. Unfortunately the disease only becomes more severe with its progression. The mental state gets worse, causing people to required complete care.

Other parts of the body start to fail too, including the heart. Damage to the brain becomes so significant that eventually it can do little to sustain the body and coma is likely. The respiratory system usually fails at this point, and death is often from pneumonia or other lung and bronchial infections. The steady march of these devastating symptoms of mad cow disease take an average of seven years, and are incredibly difficult for the person losing all function and for that person’s family to undergo.

As yet there is no cure for vCJD or CJD, but there continues to be hope of creating one. At best, medical professionals can help a family find the support they will need to care for someone who will face a devastating illness and eventually death. Continued research in the area is the best hope for ultimately finding treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Anyone who suspects they have symptoms of mad cow disease, either true vCJD or CJD should see a doctor, because even though no cure exists, much can be done to promote a patient's comfort, and there is always hope of medical discovery that could reverse the disease.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon947192 — On Apr 24, 2014

I suffer from all those symptoms, plus chronic fatigue. What test can I get? As if this weren't bad enough, my friend came over today and told me that his uncle has it, and I wanted to help so I'm looking and he said there is no cure, that they can only tell what you have have at the autopsy. How can I get checked? I'm so scared. The symptoms are bad enough. I don't want to die.

By panda2006 — On Feb 25, 2011

I think it is probably one of the least known mad cow disease facts that sometimes humans do get this disease without actually consuming beef or anything with beef, but sometimes it can just happen. What I have read is that scientists are still not sure what causes many cases, or if it just happens randomly in the population. Overall, though, a frightening condition.

By recapitulate — On Feb 24, 2011

A teacher at my high school died of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, and it was very odd. I know she had suffered aneurysms in the past, and I am not sure what led to her actual diagnosis of CJD. I also don't know if she had CJD or vCJD. It was pretty weird to me, though, to read about it in the paper when it happened.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-symptoms-of-mad-cow-disease.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.