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Arlene VonMyhr, a 55-year-old grandmother from Michigan, lost her battle against Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare brain disorder with no cure.

According to MLive, VonMyhr's health rapidly deteriorated after experiencing stroke-like symptoms following a celebration of the University of Michigan's football championship victory.

Despite multiple visits to the hospital, her condition worsened, eventually leading to her untimely demise on Feb. 19, leaving behind a grieving family and raising concerns about a potential disease cluster in the region.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, characterized by misfolded proteins that cause irreversible damage to the brain, manifests with symptoms such as memory loss, speech impairment and motor difficulties.

While the exact cause of the disease remains unknown, many experts have labeled the abnormal infectious proteins called prions as its causative agent. The disease's rapid progression and invariably fatal outcome indicate the urgent need for further research and treatment options.

VonMyhr's case has prompted an urgent investigation into a suspected cluster of CJD cases in West Michigan, with concerns heightened by a reported increase in diagnoses by Corewell Health.

Dr. Brian Appleby, director of the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, emphasized the aggressive nature of the disease, which often leads to rapid decline and death within months of onset.

"For almost everyone, unfortunately, it's an extremely rapid course," Appleby said, the New York Post reported.

"It causes brain damage. It causes brain cells to die. And we don't necessarily understand why."

While CJD primarily affects older adults, the recent spike in cases has sparked concerns within the medical community and prompted calls for heightened awareness and research efforts.

Despite ongoing clinical trials and potential treatment avenues, including promising results from past studies, the lack of a definitive cure remains a significant challenge in combating this devastating illness.

Amid efforts to continue to understand and address the complexities of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, VonMyhr's husband, Gary, is advocating for increased awareness and research funding to ultimately find a cure.