Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Support Groups Increasing Global-Wide As 'International CJD Awareness Day' Approaches

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) support groups are starting to form not only in the United States, but also in Europe as
November 12 draws closer……International CJD Awareness
Day.

"There are individuals in New Mexico, Italy, Argentina, France,
Israel, Italy, Hungary and possibly the Philippines who are
hoping to form some sort of group to promote Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease (CJD) awareness in their respective country," remarked
Christy Brom, the founder of CJD Aware!, a non-profit, New Orleans-based
information organization. "Gillian Turner tells CJD Aware!

that there are ten families in Germany who are thinking of doing
something on November 12 to raise awareness of CJD". Gillian
Turner is the coordinator for the CJD Support Group Network based
in Great Britain and the originator of International CJD Awareness Day.
In 2002, she invited groups global-wide to join with the CJD Support
Group Network and plan some activity within their own group or
community to promote awareness about the infectious disease.

Suzanne Solvyns with the Australian CJD Support Network says
they are hoping that the educational DVD they are in the process
of compiling will be launched in conjunction with International CJD Day.
"CJD affects everyone, with no regard to location, age or race,"
added Libby Perkins, CJD Aware! volunteer. "We are so pleased
to see the CJD network building not only in the United States,
but overseas as well." Added Sandy Rouse, another CJD Aware!
volunteer, "In the future, as more CJD support groups continue to
develop overseas, we will be able to direct individuals who contact
our office to a support group within his/her country."

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, fatal neurological disorder. Currently
there is no treatment or cure for this disease. It is rapidly progressive
which is why it has been referred to as "Alzheimer's in fast-forward".