Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative condition that affects the brain. It is believed to be caused by consumption of meat products contaminated with abnormal prion proteins, particularly from cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as "mad cow disease." Symptoms of vCJD include rapidly progressive dementia, muscle stiffness, and difficulty coordinating movements. There is no cure for vCJD and it is usually fatal within a year of onset.
