Copy of `Cleveland Clinic - Alzheimers glossary`

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Cleveland Clinic - Alzheimers glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Degenerative diseases Date & country: 30/04/2018, USA Words: 247

X-ray
High-energy radiation used in low doses to create images of the body to help diagnose diseases and determine the extent of injuries.

Vitamins
Various substances found in plants and animals that are required for life-sustaining processes.

Wandering
Common behavior that causes people with dementia to stray and become lost in familiar surroundings.

Will
A legal document created by an individual that names an executor (the person who will manage the estate) and beneficiaries (persons who will receive the estate at the time of the individual’s death).

Zinc
A mineral that is essential for proper nutrition.

Trigger
An environmental or personal stimulus that sets off a particular behavior.

Urinalysis
A test in which a urine sample is evaluated to detect abnormalities.

Vascular cognitive impairment
Changes in cognitive functioning—thinking, decision-making, memory, etc.—due to vascular disease. These changes are often brought on by a series of small strokes.

Vascular dementia
See multi-infarct dementia or MID.

Vesicle
A small pouch or pouch-like sac. Vesicles in nerve cell axons contain neurotransmitters.

Trustee
The individual or financial institution managing the assets of a living trust.

Tissue
A group of similar cells that act together in the performance of a particular function.

Toxin
A substance that can cause illness, injury or death. Toxins are produced by living organisms.

Synapse
The junction between cells where a signal is transmitted from one nerve cell to another, usually by a chemical called a neurotransmitter.

Synaptic vesicles
Small sacs located at the ends of nerve cell axons that contain neurotransmitters.

Tangles
See neurofibrillary tangles.

Tau protein
The major protein that makes up neurofibrillary tangles found in degenerating nerve cells.

Support group
A facilitated gathering of patients, caregivers, family, friends or others affected by a disease or condition for the purpose of discussing issues related to the disease.

Subcortical dementia
Dementia associated with impairment of the lower part of the brain that affects the speed of motor and mental processes. It is associated with disease of the basal ganglia, such as Huntington’s disease.

Sundowning
Unsettled behavior evident in the late afternoon or early evening.

Suspiciousness
A mistrust common in Alzheimer patients as their memory becomes progressively worse. An example is when patients believe their belongings have been stolen.

Special care unit
A designated area of a residential care facility or nursing home that cares specifically for the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Stages
The course of disease progression defined by levels or periods of severity: prodromal, early, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe.

Side effect
An undesired effect of a drug treatment that may range from barely noticeable to uncomfortable to dangerous. Side effects usually are predictable.

Skilled nursing care
A level of care that includes ongoing medical or nursing services.

SPECT scan
See single photon emission computed tomography scan.

Spinal cord
One of the two components of the central nervous system. The spinal cord is the main relay for signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan
A procedure that measures blood flow in different areas of the brain, or is used to measure certain brain chemicals such as dopamine.

Senility
A term meaning "old," once used to describe elderly diagnosed with dementia.

Sensory-motor
Aspects of sensation and movement.

Sequencing
Determination of the order of amino acids that make up a gene.

Senile plaque
See amyloid plaque.

Shadowing
Following, mimicking and interrupting behaviors that people with dementia may exhibit.

Receptor agonist
A substance that mimics a specific neurotransmitter, is able to attach to that neurotransmitter’s receptor and thereby produces the same action the neurotransmitter usually produces. Drug often are designed as receptor agonists to treat a variety of diseases and disorders in which the original chemical substance is missing or depleted.

Risk factor
A factor that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease or predisposes a person to a certain condition.

Safe Return
The Alzheimer’s Association’s nationwide identification, support, and registration program that assists in the safe return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias who wander and become lost.

Recombinant DNA technology
The artificial rearrangement of DNA. Segments of DNA from one organism can be incorporated into the genetic makeup of another organism. Using these techniques, researchers can study the characteristics and actions of specific genes. Many modern genetic research methods are based on recombinant DNA technology.

Reassurance
Encouragement intended to relieve tension, fear and confusion that can result from dementia.

Receptor
A site on a nerve cell that receives a specific neurotransmitter; the message receiver.

Restraints
Devices used to ensure safety by restricting and controlling a person’s movement. Many facilities are "restrain-free" or use alternative methods to help modify behavior.

Rehabilitation
The ability to function in a normal or near-normal manner after disease or injury; the use of various therapies to help improve a person’s level of function.

Reinforcement
The use of praise, repetition and stimulation of the senses to influence a person’s behavior.

Related disorders
Conditions that are similar in nature to the main condition but occur for a different reason.

Reminiscence
A life review activity aimed at surfacing and reviewing positive memories and experiences.

Repetitive behavior
Repeated questions, stories and outbursts or specific activities done over and over again, common in people with dementia.

Respite
A short break or time away.

Respite care
Services that provide people with temporary relief from the tasks associated with care giving. Examples of respite care include in-home assistance, short nursing home stays, and adult day care.

Psychotherapy
A variety of techniques used to treat depression. Psychotherapy involves talking to a licensed professional who helps the depressed person. Psychotherapy has proven to be effective in treating mild and moderate forms of depression, and can be combined with drug therapy to treat all degrees of depression.

Quality of care
A term used to describe care and services that allow the recipients to attain and maintain their highest level of mental, physical and psychological function in a dignified and caring way.

Pseudodementia
A severe form of depression resulting from a progressive brain disorder in which cognitive changes mimic those of dementia.

Psychiatrists
Doctors who specialize in treating mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. They are doctors who can prescribe medications.

Psychologists
Specialists who concentrate on the science of the mind and behavior. Psychologists usually have advanced degrees and receive additional training to work with patients. Psychologists are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication, but do perform evaluations and use psychotherapy. They also are referred to as clinical psychologists.

Presenilins
Genes, mutations of which are linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Principal
The individual signing the power of attorney to authorize another person to legally make decisions for him or her.

Prions
Self-replicating proteins that may cause infection and may lead to some forms of dementia, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Premature aging
Physical changes related to aging that occur ahead of what would be expected for a person’s chronological age.

Proteases
Enzymes that break down proteins in the body.

Protein metabolism
The breakdown of proteins into amino acids, a process essential to human growth and metabolism.

Prodromal Alzheimer’s disease
A condition in which a person has memory impairment and a biomarker (PET, MRI, CSF changes) of Alzheimer’s disease.

Prognosis
The probable outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery.

Progressive disorder
A disorder that gets worse over time.

Probable Alzheimer’s disease
A level of diagnosis that is supported with relative certainty by the progressive deterioration of specific cognitive functions, motor skills and perception, impaired activities of daily living and altered patterns of behavior, as well as laboratory findings and brain scanning.

Possible Alzheimer’s disease
A level of diagnosis that is supported, but with a degree of uncertainty, by the patient’s medical history, and by neurologic, psychiatric and clinical exams, neuropsychological tests and laboratory studies.

Plaques and tangles
See amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangle.

Placebo
An inactive material in the same form as an active drug; for example, a sugar pill (See double-blind, placebo-controlled study).

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
An imaging scan that measures the activity of the functional level of the brain by measuring its use of glucose, or reveals molecular abnormalities such as the amyloid protein.

Phosphorylation
The chemical addition of a phosphate group (phosphate and oxygen) to a protein or other compound.

Pick’s disease
A type of dementia in which frontotemporal dementia causes dramatic alterations in personality and social behavior but typically does not affect memory until later in the disease. It is caused by an accumulation of tau proteins in nerve cells.

Philanthropy
A word composed of root words that mean love of mankind. The word now refers to concern for social/community situations—such as health, education, welfare. Philanthropy is now linked to "doing good," such as donating money or property for a cause.

Personal care
See activities of daily living.

PET scan
See positron emission tomography scan.

Perseveration
The persistent repetition of an activity, word, phrase or movement, such as tapping, wiping and picking.

Peripheral nervous system
(PNS) One of the two major divisions of the nervous system. Nerves in the PNS connect the central nervous system with sensory organs, other organs, muscles, blood vessels and glands.

Pharmacology
The study of drugs, including their composition, production, uses and effects in the body.

Paranoia
Suspicion of others that is not based on fact.

Onset
Defines the time when a disease begins (early-onset, late-onset).

Parkinson’s disease
A progressive, neurodegenerative disease with an unknown cause characterized by the death of nerve cells in a specific area of the brain. People with Parkinson’s disease lack the neurotransmitter dopamine and have symptoms such as tremors, speech impediments, movement difficulties and often dementia later in the course of the disease.

Pacing
Aimless wandering or walking back and forth, often triggered by an internal stimulus—such as pain, hunger or boredom—or by some distraction in the environment—such as noise, smell or temperature.

Nerve cell line
A group of nerve cells derived from a cell culture that can be used for experimental purposes.

Nucleus
The central component of a cell containing all genetic material.

Occupational therapists
Health care professionals that teach people how to return to normal activities after injury or illness by therapy and rehabilitation.

Neuritic plaque
See amyloid plaque.

Neurodegenerative disease
A type of neurological disorder marked by the loss of nerve cells. (See Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.)

Nerve cell transplantation
An experimental procedure in which normal brain cells are implanted into diseased areas of the brain to replace dying or damaged cells.

Nerve growth factor
(NGF) A protein that promotes nerve cell growth and may protect some types of nerve cells from damage.

Nerve cell
(neuron) The basic working unit of the nervous system. The nerve cell typically is composed of a cell body containing the nucleus, several short branches (dendrites), and one long arm (the axon) with short branches along its length and at its end. Nerve cells send signals that control the actions of other cells in the body, such as other nerve cells and muscle cells.

Neurological disorder
A disturbance in structure or function of the nervous system resulting from developmental abnormality, disease, injury or toxin.

Neuropsychologist
An individual who holds a doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical psychology or a related discipline and who specializes in the evaluation and management of brain dysfunction.

Neurotransmission
The passage of signals from one nerve cell to another via chemical substances or electrical signals.

Neurofibrillary tangle
An accumulation of twisted protein (tau protein) fragments inside nerve cells. Neurofibrillary tangles are one of the characteristic structural abnormalities found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Upon autopsy, the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles is used to positively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

Neurologist
A doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system.

Neuron
See nerve cell.

Neuropathology
Changes in the brain produced by a disease.

Neuropsychological testing
The evaluation of brain function and an individual’s capabilities that utilizes tests to assess language, visual-perceptual skills, memory, attention, problem-solving and reasoning.

Neurotrophic factor
A protein, such as nerve growth factor, that promotes nerve cell growth and survival.

Neurotransmitter
A special chemical in the brain that is necessary for communication between nerve cells. Examples of neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Music therapy
Use of music to improve physical, psychological, cognitive and social functioning.

Multi-infarct dementia
(MID) A form of dementia, also known as vascular dementia, caused by a number of strokes in the brain. These strokes can affect some intellectual abilities, impair motor and walking skills, and cause an individual to experience hallucinations, delusions or depression. The onset of MID usually is abrupt and often progresses in a stepwise fashion. Individuals with MID are likely to have risk factors for strokes, such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. MID cannot be treated; once nerve cells die, they cannot be replaced. However, risk factors can be treated, which may help prevent further damage.

MRI
See magnetic resonance imaging.

Monoamine oxidase B
(MAO-B) An enzyme that breaks down certain neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline.