Menu Healthy Lifestyle Diseases & Conditions First Aid Symptoms Tests & Procedures Videos Definitions FAQs Mad cow diseaseUpdated: 2017-06-13OverviewHumans may acquire the disorder by eating diseased meat products. In humans, the disorder is called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). CJD ultimately leads to dementia and death. The condition is rare. SymptomsThe disease is marked by rapid mental deterioration, usually within a few months. Most people eventually lapse into a coma. TreatmentsTreatment focuses on keeping the person as comfortable as possible. © 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research(MFMER). All rights reserved. Terms of Use