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Home / Critical illness cover / - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Definition
A diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease supported by evidence of progressive loss of the ability to:
- remember;
- reason; and
- perceive, understand, express and give effect to ideas.
What does this mean?
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a degenerative organic brain disease which may be inherited or acquired. There is a progressive degeneration of the nerve cells of the central nervous system which will result in defective muscular control and dementia. There is no cure.
NEWS
Positive attitude to cancer 'not associated with survival'
23 October 2007 12:58:52
People looking at critical illness cover for cancer may be interested in new research looking at the impact of an optimistic attitude on the disease.
Several cancer debates have focused on the potential of a positive outlook to boost an individual's chances of surviving.
However the report from scientists at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that emotional well-being is not an independent risk factor affecting the outcome of head and neck cancers.
Researchers there looked at data from two studies of patients with the disease, with more than 1,000 individuals completing a questionnaire on their quality of life during treatment.
During the work 646 of the participants died from their disease.
Researcher Dr James Coyne pointed out that emotional status was not associated with survival, even after investigating other factors including gender, tumour site or disease stage.
"The hope that we can fight cancer by influencing emotional states appears to have been misplaced," he commented.
"If cancer patients want psychotherapy or to be in a support group, they should be given the opportunity to do so," he added.
"There can be lots of emotional and social benefits. But they should not seek such experiences solely on the expectation that they are extending their lives."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online.
Insurance conditions more 'black and white' with ruling
22 January 2008 12:16:33
The insurance industry's pledge to pay out on more life insurance, critical illness and income protection claims has been welcomed by the UK’s leading general insurance organisation.
Representatives for the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) commented on the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) decision regarding customers who unintentionally withhold medical information.
Announced earlier this month, the ruling means that only people who deliberately conceal details about their medical history will be financially penalised.
"I think that there were some grey areas previously [where] clients, insurers and medical practitioners were unsure of the position over what was and wasn't a valid claim," remarked Graeme Trudgill, BIBA's technical and corporate affairs executive.
He stated his belief that the ABI is seeking to "make the situation a bit more black and white" in order to help customers do the right thing and receive legitimate payouts.
Mr Trudgill echoed public concerns following a number of recent high-profile claim rejections when he noted that critical illness and life insurance cover have had "a difficult time in the press".
According to BIBA, individuals can often clarify the finer details of life insurance and critical illness policies with the help of a financial advisor or insurance broker.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
Advance for pancreatic cancer
02 August 2007 15:09:30
US scientists have made a breakthrough in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
The team from Northwestern University and Evanston-Northwestern Healthcare have devised a light-scattering technique, whereby the first evidence of the effects of the disease can be observed.
An 'optic fingerprint' of the cancer's effect on small intestine tissue is produced, allowing quicker detection of the notoriously difficult-to-diagnose disease.
The study was based on the so-called 'field effect' theory, which hypothesises that cancer, even at its earliest stages, can cause minute changes across an entire organ.
Once the altered intestinal tissue was detected, it was removed, reducing the risk of potentially fatal pancreatic inflammation.
Vadim Backman, co-author of the research, said that the findings were hugely important.
"We are excited about this technology because it enables sensing subtle changes in tissue that otherwise are undetectable by conventional microscopic examination," he said.
"For pancreatic cancer it's not only critical to detect it early, or even before it becomes cancerous, but in many cases it is really the only hope."
Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in Britain, according to Cancer Research UK.
23 October 2007 12:58:52
People looking at critical illness cover for cancer may be interested in new research looking at the impact of an optimistic attitude on the disease.
Several cancer debates have focused on the potential of a positive outlook to boost an individual's chances of surviving.
However the report from scientists at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that emotional well-being is not an independent risk factor affecting the outcome of head and neck cancers.
Researchers there looked at data from two studies of patients with the disease, with more than 1,000 individuals completing a questionnaire on their quality of life during treatment.
During the work 646 of the participants died from their disease.
Researcher Dr James Coyne pointed out that emotional status was not associated with survival, even after investigating other factors including gender, tumour site or disease stage.
"The hope that we can fight cancer by influencing emotional states appears to have been misplaced," he commented.
"If cancer patients want psychotherapy or to be in a support group, they should be given the opportunity to do so," he added.
"There can be lots of emotional and social benefits. But they should not seek such experiences solely on the expectation that they are extending their lives."
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online.
22 January 2008 12:16:33
The insurance industry's pledge to pay out on more life insurance, critical illness and income protection claims has been welcomed by the UK’s leading general insurance organisation.
Representatives for the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) commented on the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) decision regarding customers who unintentionally withhold medical information.
Announced earlier this month, the ruling means that only people who deliberately conceal details about their medical history will be financially penalised.
"I think that there were some grey areas previously [where] clients, insurers and medical practitioners were unsure of the position over what was and wasn't a valid claim," remarked Graeme Trudgill, BIBA's technical and corporate affairs executive.
He stated his belief that the ABI is seeking to "make the situation a bit more black and white" in order to help customers do the right thing and receive legitimate payouts.
Mr Trudgill echoed public concerns following a number of recent high-profile claim rejections when he noted that critical illness and life insurance cover have had "a difficult time in the press".
According to BIBA, individuals can often clarify the finer details of life insurance and critical illness policies with the help of a financial advisor or insurance broker.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
02 August 2007 15:09:30
US scientists have made a breakthrough in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
The team from Northwestern University and Evanston-Northwestern Healthcare have devised a light-scattering technique, whereby the first evidence of the effects of the disease can be observed.
An 'optic fingerprint' of the cancer's effect on small intestine tissue is produced, allowing quicker detection of the notoriously difficult-to-diagnose disease.
The study was based on the so-called 'field effect' theory, which hypothesises that cancer, even at its earliest stages, can cause minute changes across an entire organ.
Once the altered intestinal tissue was detected, it was removed, reducing the risk of potentially fatal pancreatic inflammation.
Vadim Backman, co-author of the research, said that the findings were hugely important.
"We are excited about this technology because it enables sensing subtle changes in tissue that otherwise are undetectable by conventional microscopic examination," he said.
"For pancreatic cancer it's not only critical to detect it early, or even before it becomes cancerous, but in many cases it is really the only hope."
Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in Britain, according to Cancer Research UK.