Glossary of Alzheimer's Terms
Welcome to the Alzheimer's Dental Group glossary, where we've curated a list of 200 important terms related to Alzheimer's disease. This glossary is designed to help you better understand the disease, its symptoms, associated care, and treatment options.
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1. **Acetylcholine:** A neurotransmitter associated with memory and learning that's often reduced in Alzheimer's.
2. **Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors:** Medications used to treat symptoms by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine.
3. **Activities of Daily Living (ADLs):** Routine activities people do every day without assistance, such as eating, bathing, dressing.
4. **Agnosia:** Loss of the ability to recognize objects, people, sounds, shapes, or smells.
5. **Alzheimer's Disease:** A progressive neurodegenerative disease that is the most common cause of dementia.
6. **Amnesia:** The loss of memory, often seen in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
7. **Aphasia:** Difficulty with language skills, including speaking, reading, and writing.
8. **Apraxia:** Loss of the ability to execute or carry out skilled movements and gestures.
9. **Amyloid Plaques:** Abnormal protein fragments that build up between nerve cells in Alzheimer's brains.
10. **Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP):** A protein involved in neuron growth and repair; its improper processing leads to plaque formation.
11. **Anomia:** The inability to name objects or to recognize the names of people.
12. **Antioxidants:** Compounds that inhibit oxidation and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by neutralizing free radicals.
13. **Atrophy:** Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part, seen in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.
14. **Autopsy:** Examination of a body after death, sometimes used to diagnose Alzheimer's definitively.
15. **Axons:** Parts of neurons that transmit information to different neurons, muscles, and glands.
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16. **Behavioral Symptoms:** Changes in mood, personality, or behavior often seen in Alzheimer's.
17. **Beta-Amyloid:** Protein fragment snipped from a larger protein, leading to plaque formation in Alzheimer's.
18. **Biomarkers:** Biological indicators used to detect and monitor disease processes.
19. **Brain Atrophy:** Shrinkage of the brain tissue seen in advanced Alzheimer's disease.
20. **Brain Reserve:** The brain's ability to cope with damage without showing clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's.
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21. **Caregiver:** Person responsible for caring for someone with Alzheimer's, providing emotional and physical support.
22. **Caregiver Burden:** The emotional, physical, and financial pressure on individuals caring for Alzheimer's patients.
23. **Cholinesterase Inhibitors:** A class of drugs aiming to increase levels of acetylcholine, improving communication between neurons.
24. **Cognitive Decline:** Gradual loss of cognitive abilities, including memory and decision-making.
25. **Cognitive Reserve:** The brain's ability to improvise and use alternative strategies to complete tasks in the face of aging or damage.
26. **CT Scan:** Imaging technique used to check for brain atrophy or other changes in Alzheimer's patients.
27. **Cortical Atrophy:** Thinning or loss of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex seen in Alzheimer's patients.
28. **Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease:** A rare, degenerative brain disorder, often confused with Alzheimer's due to similar symptoms.
29. **Cues:** Environmental hints that help people with Alzheimer's to perform tasks or remember information.
30. **Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF):** Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, analyzed to find biomarkers for Alzheimer's.
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31. **Dementia:** A group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily life.
32. **Delirium:** Rapid onset of confusion and change in cognition, often mistaken for or seen with dementia.
33. **Diagnosis:** Identifying the presence and stage of Alzheimer's based on clinical assessments and tests.
34. **Dietary Supplements:** Products taken orally that contain dietary ingredients meant to augment the diet, sometimes claimed to aid cognitive health.
35. **Disorientation:** Confusion about time, place, or identity often experienced by Alzheimer's patients.
36. **Dopamine:** A neurotransmitter involved in focus and concentration, which can be affected in Alzheimer's.
37. **Down Syndrome:** Genetic condition where individuals are at higher risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer's.
38. **Dual Tasking:** Performing two tasks simultaneously, which becomes challenging for those with cognitive deficits.
39. **Disease Progression:** The advancement of Alzheimer's, typically marked by worsening of symptoms over time.
40. **DNA Methylation:** An epigenetic mechanism that can influence Alzheimer's disease risk and progression.
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41. **Early-Onset Alzheimer's:** Alzheimer's that occurs in individuals younger than 65, often with a strong genetic link.
42. **Epidemiology:** The study of disease distribution and patterns in populations, crucial for Alzheimer's research.
43. **Emotional Lability:** Rapid and unpredictable emotional changes often seen in Alzheimer's patients.
44. **End-of-Life Care:** Support and medical care given during the time surrounding death, important in late stages of Alzheimer's.
45. **Encephalopathy:** Any disease of the brain altering structure or function, can be related to or mistaken for Alzheimer’s.
46. **Epigenetics:** The study of changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequences, relevant in understanding Alzheimer's.
47. **Executive Function:** Higher-level cognitive skills used to control and coordinate other cognitive abilities and behaviors, often impaired in Alzheimer's.
48. **Euphoria:** A sudden overwhelming feeling of happiness, which can be unusually seen in early Alzheimer’s stages.
49. **Excitotoxicity:** Neuronal damage caused by an excessive amount of neurotransmitter glutamate seen in Alzheimer's disease.
50. **Exelon (Rivastigmine):** A drug used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.
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51. **Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD):** A rare form of Alzheimer's that runs in families, typically early-onset.
52. **Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD):** A group of related conditions resulting from the progressive degeneration of the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain.
53. **Functional MRI (fMRI):** Imaging technology that measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.
54. **Forgetfulness:** A common symptom indicative of Alzheimer's when frequent and consistent.
55. **FMR1 Gene:** Genes potentially playing a role in Alzheimer’s through cognitive impairments they produce.
56. **Free Radicals:** Atoms or molecules that may damage cells, including neurons; antioxidants may neutralize them.
57. **Focus:** The act of concentrating interest or activity on a particular object, still challenging for Alzheimer’s patients.
58. **Familial Risk:** The increased chance of developing a condition based on family history, relevant to Alzheimer's.
59. **Fatigue:** Feeling of extreme tiredness often experienced by Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
60. **Frontal Lobe:** Part of the brain associated with higher cognitive functions and affected in Alzheimer's.
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61. **Genetic Testing:** Testing of DNA to determine genetic predispositions to Alzheimer's.
62. **Glial Cells:** Supportive cells in the nervous system that can play a role in the health and disease of the brain.
63. **Ginkgo Biloba:** A supplement sometimes used with claims of improving cognitive function, though evidence in Alzheimer's is lacking.
64. **Glutamate:** A neurotransmitter that can cause excitotoxicity if present in high amounts in Alzheimer's.
65. **Granulovacuolar Degeneration:** Formation of fluid-filled vacuoles in brain cells, associated with Alzheimer's.
66. **Geriatric Assessment:** Evaluation to determine an elderly person's medical, psychological, and functional capability.
67. **Guided Imagery:** A therapeutic technique where mental images are used to improve mood and relaxation, aiding Alzheimer's care.
68. **Genotype:** The genetic makeup of an individual, which can influence Alzheimer's development.
69. **Global Deterioration Scale (GDS):** A scale used to objectively measure the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's.
70. **Gray Matter:** The darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting mainly of nerve cell bodies, affected in Alzheimer's.
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71. **Heritability:** Measure of how much of a trait's variation is attributable to genetic factors, high in some types of Alzheimer's.
72. **Hippocampus:** Brain area involved in memory formation, first region affected in Alzheimer's.
73. **Hydration:** Maintaining adequate fluid intake is crucial for Alzheimer’s patients to prevent cognitive decline.
74. **Head Trauma:** A risk factor for developing Alzheimer's due to potential injuries to the brain.
75. **Hallucinations:** Sensory experiences of things that are not present, occasionally seen in advanced Alzheimer's.
76. **Hyperphosphorylation:** Excessive addition of phosphate groups to tau proteins, contributing to neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's.
77. **Home Health Care:** Professional care provided in a patient’s home to assist with day-to-day activities in Alzheimer's.
78. **Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV):** Virus speculated to have a potential role in the development of Alzheimer's.
79. **Hypoxia:** Lack of oxygen in the brain, which has been implicated in Alzheimer's pathology.
80. **Hospice Care:** Type of care focusing on the quality of life for people experiencing advanced, life-limiting illness like Alzheimer's.
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81. **Informed Consent:** Legal procedure to ensure a patient or participant's understanding of a study or treatment carrying out risks or benefits.
82. **Incontinence:** Lack of control over urination or defecation, commonly associated with advanced Alzheimer's.
83. **Insomnia:** Difficulty falling or staying asleep, often experienced by Alzheimer’s patients.
84. **Inflammation:** The body's response to injury or irritation, playing a role in Alzheimer's pathology.
85. **Interdisciplinary Team:** A group of professionals from various fields collaborating to provide comprehensive care for Alzheimer's patients.
86. **Irreversible Dementia:** Dementia for which there is no cure, such as Alzheimer's disease.
87. **Imaging Studies:** Techniques like MRI or CT scans used for visualizing brain changes typical of Alzheimer's.
88. **Idiosyncratic Reaction:** Uncommon or abnormal reaction to a drug, which can occur in Alzheimer's treatments.
89. **Intraneuronal:** Located or occurring within a neuron; refers, for example, to tangles in Alzheimer's.
90. **Immediate Recall:** The ability to remember information immediately after it is presented, often impaired in Alzheimer's.
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91. **Juvenile Dementia:** Rare cases of dementias appearing in adolescence or childhood, distinct from typical Alzheimer's.
92. **Joint Decision Making:** Collaborative decision-making process often required for Alzheimer’s care planning.
93. **Jargon Aphasia:** A form of speech with meaningless or nonsensical words, observed in some Alzheimer's patients.
94. **Judgement:** The ability to make considered decisions, often impaired in Alzheimer's.
95. **Journaling:** Writing process used therapeutically by caregivers of Alzheimer's patients for stress management and documentation.
96. **Jumbled Speech:** Incoherence in verbal communication seen in Alzheimer’s conversations.
97. **Job-Related Skills:** Functional abilities related to employment, frequently declining in early Alzheimer's stages.
98. **Jaundice Recognition:** Ability to identify skin discoloration, unrelated but possibly relevant to Alzheimer's when evaluating overall health in elderly patients.
99. **Jejunal Feeding:** A form of nutritional support used for advanced Alzheimer's patients who can't swallow properly.
100. **Justice in Healthcare:** Ensuring fair access to Alzheimer’s treatments and care options.
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101. **Kinesthetic Learning:** Learning style relying on tactile sensations and physical activity, utilized in therapy for Alzheimer's.
102. **Kyphosis:** Forward curvature of the spine, which can be problematic in Alzheimer's patients due to related mobility issues.
103. **Keystone Species:** Unrelated to Alzheimer's, but metaphorically the pivotal role of key neurotransmitters in brain function and disease.
104. **Knowledge Retention:** The ability to retain information over time, often declining in Alzheimer's patients.
105. **Korsakoff Syndrome:** A chronic memory disorder often due to alcohol misuse, can be confused with Alzheimer’s.
106. **Kraepelin’s Disease:** An outdated term once used for Alzheimer's, named after psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin.
107. **Karyotyping:** The study of chromosome structure, which might be relevant in identifying genetic diseases or predispositions.
108. **Kinesia Paradoxa:** Unusual ability in Parkinson’s disease to overcome motor inhibition with external cues; also studied in relation to Alzheimer’s.
109. **Knowledge Gap:** The disparity between current understanding and necessary information regarding Alzheimer's treatment.
110. **Kinetics in Medication:** Understanding medication dosing and metabolism, imperative for Alzheimer's pharmacological treatment.
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111. **Lewy Bodies:** Abnormal aggregates of protein seen in certain types of dementia, including sometimes in Alzheimer's.
112. **Lateralization:** The tendency for some neural functions to be more dominant in one hemisphere than the other, affected in Alzheimer's.
113. **Loss of Initiative:** Reduction in the motivation to start tasks or activities, common in Alzheimer's patients.
114. **Lifestyle Changes:** Recommended alterations in day-to-day behavior aimed at reducing Alzheimer's risk.
115. **Language Disorders:** Communication difficulties seen in Alzheimer's due to cognitive decline.
116. **Light Therapy:** Exposure to bright light, potentially used to manage sleep disorders in Alzheimer's patients.
117. **Long-Term Memory:** The ability to store information over long periods, often compromised in Alzheimer's.
118. **Lobar Atrophy:** Wasting away of brain lobes visible in brain scans of Alzheimer's patients.
119. **Latent Disease:** Disease not yet producing symptoms detectable without medical testing, relevant to early Alzheimer’s stages.
120. **Legal Capacity:** The ability to make decisions and understand their consequences, relevant for establishing care preferences for Alzheimer's patients.
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121. **Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI):** A condition characterized by slight but noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, which may precede Alzheimer's.
122. **Memory Care:** Specialized form of long-term care designed to cater to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
123. **Medication Management:** The systematic oversight of drug therapy in Alzheimer's to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
124. **Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE):** Brief 30-point questionnaire test assessing cognitive impairment.
125. **Mid-Stage Alzheimer's:** Phase of Alzheimer's characterized by significant memory loss and a need for assistance in daily activities.
126. **MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment):** A screening tool for mild cognitive dysfunction, used in Alzheimer's assessment.
127. **Mood Stabilizers:** Medications used to manage mood swings and emotional disturbances in Alzheimer's patients.
128. **Motor Function:** The physical abilities controlled by the brain, often declining in late-stage Alzheimer's.
129. **Montessori Methods:** Educational techniques adapted for Alzheimer's to engage patients through structured activities promoting dignity and independence.
130. **Multisensory Stimulation:** Engaging multiple senses through therapies designed to improve cognitive function and quality of life for Alzheimer's patients.
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131. **Neurofibrillary Tangles:** Twisted filaments within nerve cells found in Alzheimer's-affected brains, due to tau protein abnormality.
132. **Neuroplasticity:** The brain’s capacity to change and adapt in response to experience, potentially aiding Alzheimer's therapies.
133. **Nutritional Interventions:** Dietary approaches intended to improve cognitive health in Alzheimer's patients.
134. **Neurotransmitter:** Chemicals in the brain that transmit signals, many of which are affected in Alzheimer's.
135. **Nighttime Agitation:** Increased confusion and restlessness occurring in the evening, known as sundowning in Alzheimer's patients.
136. **Neurological Exam:** A thorough assessment of the nervous system used to help diagnose Alzheimer's.
137. **Neurogenesis:** The process of generating new neurons, relevant in discussions about brain recovery in Alzheimer's.
138. **Nerve Cell:** Basic building block of the nervous system, heavily impacted by Alzheimer's.
139. **Neuroprotection:** Strategies aimed at preserving nerve cell function and integrity, relevant to Alzheimer's treatments.
140. **Nutrition:** Balanced diet and specific nutrients may play a role in maintaining brain health in Alzheimer's.
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141. **Olfactory Dysfunction:** Impaired sense of smell that may serve as an early sign of Alzheimer's.
142. **Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors:** Repetitive behaviors or rituals sometimes seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
143. **Orientation Therapy:** Technique aimed at reinforcing self-awareness for time, place, and identity in Alzheimer's patients.
144. **Oxidative Stress:** An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, contributing to Alzheimer's progression.
145. **Oral Health:** Maintenance of dental and oral hygiene, crucial for overall health in Alzheimer's patients.
146. **Occupational Therapy:** Therapy intended to assist Alzheimer's patients in improving their performance of daily activities.
147. **Onset Age:** The age at which the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear, important for prognosis and treatment planning.
148. **Over-the-Counter Solutions:** Non-prescription supplements and medications considered by some caregivers for Alzheimer's symptoms management.
149. **Ocular Health:** Eye health and vision awareness, critically monitored in Alzheimer's due to its impact on daily living.
150. **Old Age Pensions:** Financial support systems for elderly care, potentially crucial for Alzheimer's patients.
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151. **Plaques and Tangles:** Protein clusters in the brain, considered hallmark signs of Alzheimer's.
152. **Pharmacogenomics:** Study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs, which might personalize Alzheimer's treatment.
153. **PET Scan:** Imaging technique that helps visualize active cells in the brain, aiding in Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
154. **Perseveration:** Repeated behavior, thoughts, or speech, common in Alzheimer's due to cognitive decline.
155. **Primary Progressive Aphasia:** A neurological syndrome that can lead to language impairments, sometimes related to Alzheimer's.
156. **Progressive Illness:** A disease that worsens over time, characteristic of Alzheimer's.
157. **Psychotropic Medications:** Drugs that affect mood or behavior, occasionally prescribed for Alzheimer’s-related symptoms.
158. **Prognosis:** The likely progression and outcome of Alzheimer's, essential for planning and care strategies.
159. **Palliative Care:** Care focused on providing relief from the symptoms of Alzheimer's, improving quality of life.
160. **Personal Care Assistance:** Help with personal hygiene, dressing, and grooming, essential for Alzheimer’s patients.
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161. **Quality of Life:** Reflects the general well-being of individuals and societies, central to Alzheimer's care.
162. **Quantitative EEG (QEEG):** Advanced form of EEG used for assessing brain conditions, researched in Alzheimer's.
163. **Questionnaire Assessment:** Use of structured questionnaires to evaluate cognitive function in Alzheimer's.
164. **Quetiapine:** An antipsychotic medication sometimes used off-label for behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's.
165. **Quiet Environments:** Low-stimulus surroundings, preferred for Alzheimer’s patients to reduce agitation.
166. **Qualified Dementia Care:** Expertise and training in care specifically tailored to Alzheimer’s patients.
167. **Quackery:** Promotion of fraudulent medical practices, widely cautioned against in Alzheimer's treatment.
168. **Query-Based Learning:** Educational method encouraging inquiry and exploration, applied adaptively in Alzheimer's therapies.
169. **Quantum Brain Theory:** An emerging field of study exploring quantum effects as potential factors influencing consciousness and Alzheimer's.
170. **Quotidian Tasks:** Day-to-day activities crucial for maintaining routine and structure in Alzheimer's care.
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171. **Reminiscence Therapy:** Use of life history to elicit memories, aimed at enhancing mood and cognition in Alzheimer's.
172. **Risk Factors:** Characteristics or conditions increasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's, such as age and genetics.
173. **Radioligand:** Radioactive biochemical used in imaging studies to bind specific brain targets in Alzheimer's research.
174. **Resilience:** Ability to adapt in the face of stress or adversity, crucial for Alzheimer's caregivers and patients.
175. **Rapidly Progressive Dementia:** A category of dementia that progresses faster than usual, necessitating immediate medical attention.
176. **Rehabilitation:** Therapeutic approaches to restore or improve function, applied in Alzheimer's to enhance independence.
177. **Respite Care:** Temporary relief for primary caregivers, providing essential breaks to sustain Alzheimer’s caregiving efforts.
178. **Restlessness:** Inability to stay still or calm, frequently observed in advanced Alzheimer's stages.
179. **Risk Reduction Strategies:** Approaches aimed at lowering the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
180. **Routine:** Establishing a set sequence of tasks or activities, beneficial in Alzheimer’s care to provide structure.
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181. **Sundowning:** Increased confusion and agitation occurring in the late afternoon or evening in Alzheimer's patients.
182. **Social Withdrawal:** Reduction in interaction with others, common in Alzheimer's due to cognitive and mood changes.
183. **Support Groups:** Gatherings of caregivers and patients for shared support, crucial in Alzheimer's community care.
184. **Surrogate Decision-Making:** Appointing someone to make healthcare decisions for Alzheimer’s patients unable to do so themselves.
185. **Semantic Memory:** Memory of meanings, understandings, and other concept-based knowledge, often affected in Alzheimer's.
186. **Sensory Deprivation:** Reduction or lack of environmental stimuli, which can exacerbate Alzheimer’s symptoms.
187. **Seizures:** Episodes of disturbed brain activity causing changes in behavior, occasional in Alzheimer's cases.
188. **Sleep Disorders:** Conditions affecting sleep patterns, commonly co-occurring with Alzheimer's dementia.
189. **Speech Therapy:** Therapeutic approach to improving communication abilities in Alzheimer's patients.
190. **Synaptic Function:** Performance of synapses, or connections between neurons, which is impaired in Alzheimer’s.
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191. **Tau Protein:** Protein associated with microtubules in neurons that forms tangles in Alzheimer’s disease.
192. **Teepa Snow Methods:** Dementia-care techniques to improve Alzheimer's caregiving, developed by Teepa Snow.
193. **Tapping Therapy:** An alternative treatment with potential mood-enhancing effects for Alzheimer's patients.
194. **Transdermal Medication:** A method of drug delivery through the skin, occasionally used in Alzheimer's treatments.
195. **Trial and Error:** Learning method involving repeated attempts, adaptation in concepts of Alzheimer’s cognitive therapies.
196. **Tranquility Rooms:** Spaces designed for relaxation and calming, beneficial for managing Alzheimer’s agitation.
197. **Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):** Non-invasive procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain areas, researched in Alzheimer's treatments.
198. **Tremor:** Involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions sometimes observed in Alzheimer's patients.
199. **10/66 Dementia Research Group:** Organization focusing on the prevalence and impact of Alzheimer's in developing regions.
200. **Total Care:** Level of care required for Alzheimer’s patients who cannot perform any daily living activities independently.
We hope this glossary provides valuable insights into understanding Alzheimer's disease and helps in managing its various aspects. Remember, early diagnosis and intervention are key to managing Alzheimer's effectively. For more resources, support, and professional guidance, visit our homepage.
Courtesy of Alzheimer's Dental Group. 650-965-1234