Glossary Terms
You may encounter some terms for which you are not familiar. We've created the glossary function to help. You'll find most medical or unfamiliar terms defined in this section. From anywhere on the site, you can also click on any word that has the icon and instantly receive the definition. If there are words that you think should be added to our glossary, please email us to let us know.
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A
acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter released at autonomic synapses and neuromuscular junctions.
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
See cholinesterase inhibitors.
alleles
One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus (spot
on a chromosome) or site.
Alzheimer's disease
A progressive disease of the brain
that is characterized by impairment of memory and a disturbance in at
least one other thinking function (for example, language or perception
of reality).
amyloid
A waxy translucent substance consisting of protein in combination with polysaccharides
that is deposited in some animal organs and tissues under abnormal conditions
(as Alzheimer's disease).
amyloid plaque
Build up of amyloid protein and a primary hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
amyloid precurser protein
A gene, when mutated, causes an abnormal form of the amyloid protein to be
produced. Abbreviated APP.
anti-agitation drugs
Broadly categorized type of drugs with strong sedating effects.
anti-anxiety drug
Also called anxiolytics, this drug help manage a patient who has anxiety.
anti-psychotic drug
Also called neuroleptics, this type of drug is used to help manage behavioral
problems for a patient with a serious mental disorder.
antibiotics
A broad category of drugs used to address infections within patients.
antidepressants
Drugs used to prevent or treat clinical depression. Includes Prozac, Zoloft,
Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Cymbalta, Effexor, Remeron, and Wellbutrin.
See also SSRI's.
anxiolytic
A drug that relieves anxiety.
aphasia
A neurological disorder caused by damage
to the portions of the brain that are responsible for language. Causes
difficulty speaking and/or understanding speech
apolipoprotein E (APOE)
A gene that codes for a protein in lipoproteins (complexes of fat + protein).
The abbreviation for apolipoprotein E is ApoE.
assisted living
A supportive housing facility designed
for those who need extra help in their day-to-day lives but who do not
require the 24-hour skilled nursing care found in traditional nursing
homes
APP
A gene, when mutated, causes an abnormal form of the amyloid protein to be
produced. APP stands for amyloid precurser protein.
ataxia
A lack of coordination while performing voluntary
movements.
autosomal dominant inheritance
A gene on one of the autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) that, if present, will
almost always produce a specific trait or disease.
axon
A long fiber of a nerve cell (a neuron) that acts somewhat like a fiber-optic
cable carrying outgoing messages.
beta amyloid
An amyloid derived from a larger precursor protein and is a component of the
neurofibrillary tangles and plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
beta-secretase
An enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein.
Beta-secretase acts by trimming off a protein protruding from a brain cell.
This small snip is thought to be the first step in the buildup of microscopic
balls of debris known as amyloid that are toxic to brain cells.
blinded study
A research study in which participants do not know whether they are in the
experimental or control group.
Binswanger's disease
A rare form
of dementia characterized by cerebrovascular lesions in the deep white-matter
of the brain, loss
of memory and cognition, and mood changes.
celecoxib
An anti-inflammatory drug thought to reduce Alzheimer's risk in persons with
a family history of dementia.
cerebrospinal
Relating to the brain and spinal cord or to these together with the cranial
and spinal nerves that innervate voluntary muscles.
cerebrovascular disease
Disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain.
cholinesterase inhibitors
Class of drugs known to delay the breakdown of acetylcholine and used to treat
Alzheimer's Disease. Includes Aricept, Exelon, and Reminyl. Also known as
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
chromosome
A visible carrier of the genetic information, located in the nucleus of a cell.
cognitive
Pertaining to cognition, the process of being aware, knowing, thinking, learning
and judging.
control group
The standard by which experimental observations are evaluated.
CT scan
Pictures of structures within the body created by a computer that takes the
data from multiple X-ray images and turns them into pictures on a screen.
CT stands for computerized tomography.
dementia
Significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe
enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning.
dementia with Lewy bodies
A neurodegenerative disorder
associated with abnormal structures (Lewy bodies) found in certain areas
of the brain. Symptoms include memory loss, movement difficulty, and
visual hallucinations.
depression
An illness characterized by intense feelings
of sadness, decreased interest in activities, and other symptoms.
dopamine
A
neurotransmitter in the brain. A reduction in its concentration within the
brain is associated with Parkinson's disease.
double-blind study
A research study where neither the participants nor the study staff know which
participants are receiving the experimental treatment and which ones are
getting either a standard treatment or a placebo.
enzymes
Complex proteins that are produced by living cells and bring about specific
biochemical reactions at body temperature.
estrogen
Estrogen is a female hormone produced by the ovaries. Estrogen deficiency can
lead to osteoporosis.
frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
A group of rare brain
disorders that involves shrinking (atrophy) of tissues in the frontal
and temporal lobes of the brain. Symptoms include disturbances in speech,
personality and behavior, and usually begin between ages 40 and 64.
The memory of people with FTD isn't impaired initially
gamma secretase
An enzyme partly responsible for plaque buildup in the brain characteristic
of Alzheimer’s.
gene expression
The conversion of information stored in DNA into a protein used by the body.
geratric psychiatrist
A specialist in the branch of medicine concerned with both the prevention of
illness in older people and psychiatry.
geriatrics
The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention
of disease in older people and the problems specific to aging.
glia
Supporting tissue that is intermingled with the essential elements of nervous
tissue especially in the brain and spinal cord.
hippocampus
An area buried deep in the forebrain that helps regulate emotion and memory.
homocysteine
A group of corresponding amino acids found in proteins.
home health care
Health and social services that
are provided in the homes of individuals who are disabled or ill.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A special radiology technique designed to image internal structures of the
body using magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce the images of
body structures.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
A syndrome of memory impairment that does not significantly impact daily activities
and is not accompanied by declines in overall cognitive function.
Medicare Part A
Helps pay for care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, home healthcare
and hospice care.
Medicare Part B
Helps pay for doctors, outpatient hospital care and other medical services
not requiring hospitalization.
neurodegenerative
Relating to or characterized by degeneration of nervous tissue.
neurofibrillary tangles
A fine fiber found in cytoplasm signalling an abnormality of the hippocampus
and neurons of the cerebral cortex that occurs especially in Alzheimer's
disease.
neurologist
A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the
nervous system.
neuron
One of the cells that constitute nervous tissue, that have the property of
transmitting and receiving nervous impulses.
neuropsychological
Concerned with the integration of psychological observations on behavior and
the mind with neurological observations on the brain and nervous system.
neuropsychologist
A psychologist who has completed special training in the neurobiological causes
of brain disorders, and who specializes in diagnosing and treating these
illnesses using a predominantly medical (as opposed to psychoanalytical)
approach.
neurotransmitter
A substance (as norepinephrine or acetylcholine) that transmits nerve impulses
from one cell to another across a synapse.
non-pharmacological
Various strategies aimed at managing problematic behaviors, including therapy,
changes in the home or environment and the use of appropriate communication
techniques.
nursing homes
Living facilities which provide a wide
range of personal care and health services.
paranoid delusion
An unfounded belief characterized by suspiciousness and a feeling of being
persecuted.
Parkinson's disease
A disorder that affects nerve
cells (neurons) in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement.
Symptoms include trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, and
problems with balance and coordination.
pathology
The study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural
and functional changes produced by them.
PET
Positron emission tomography, a highly specialized imaging technique using
short-lived radioactive substances. This technique produces three-dimensional
colored images.
pharmacological
The properties and reactions of drugs especially with relation to their therapeutic
value and medical toxicology.
placebo
A "sugar pill" or any dummy medication or treatment.
plaque
A localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface. Brain lesions called
plaques are often found in Alzheimer's disease.
positron emission topography
A highly specialized imaging technique using short-lived radioactive substances.
This technique produces three-dimensional colored images. Abbreviated PET.
presenilin 1
A gene, when mutated, causes an abnormal presenilin 1 protein to be produced.
presenilin 2
A gene, when mutated, causes an abnormal presenilin 2 protein to be produced.
progesterone
A female hormone which helps prepare the uterus (the womb) to receive and sustain
the fertilized egg.
progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
A degenerative
disease characterized by problems with movement.
protein kinases
An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from a high energy
phosphate-containing molecule to a substrate.
protein phosphorylation
A process which makes a protein more active by attaching a high energy phosphate
group to it.
psychosis
In the general sense, a mental illness that markedly interferes with a person's
capacity to meet life's everyday demands. In a specific sense, it refers
to a thought disorder in which reality testing is grossly impaired.
psychosocial
Pertaining to one's psychological development in the context of one's social
environment.
receptor
A cell or group of cells that receive stimuli.
respite program
A program which enables caregivers to take needed breaks from caregiving while
knowing their loved one is being cared for.
secretase
The enzyme involved in cutting amyloid into the shorter beta-amyloid form
sedatives
Drugs that calm a patient down, easing agitation and permitting sleep. Sedatives
generally work by modulating signals within the central nervous system.
selegiline
A drug sometimes used alone to treat endogenous depression or to treat dementia
associated with Alzheimer's disease.
signal transduction
A basic process in molecular cell biology involving the conversion of a signal
from outside the cell to a functional change within the cell.
sleep apnea
A common disorder in
which breathing stops during sleep for 10 seconds or more, sometimes
more than 300 times
a night. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness, fortgetfulness,
irritability, and loss of energy.
SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
A class of antidepressant
which increases the brain's level of serotonin and is used to treat
depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Includes Celexa,
Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.
stroke
An interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing damage
to brain cells.
synapse
The point of connection usually between two nerve cells. More specifically,
a specialized junction at which a nerve cell (a neuron) communicates with
a target cell.
tangles
Twisted fibers that build up inside the nerve cells.
tau
A protein which channels chemical messages inside nerve cells.
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
A transient stroke
that lasts only a few minutes.
vascular dementia
Dementia caused by cerebrovascular
disease
