system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 57-year-old man is brought to the physician for worsening mental status over the past 2 months. His wife reports he was initially experiencing lapses in memory and over the past 3 weeks he has begun having difficulties performing activities of daily living. Yesterday, he became lost heading to the post office down the street. He has hypertension treated with lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. Vital signs are within normal limits. He is alert but verbally uncommunicative. Muscle strength is normal. Reflexes are 2+ in bilateral upper and lower extremities. He has diffuse involuntary muscle jerking that can be provoked by loud noises. Mental status examination shows a blunt affect. A complete blood count and serum concentrations of glucose, creatine, and electrolytes are within the reference range. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
assistant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease