Alzheimers Glossary
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Alzheimers Glossary
Acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter found in reduced levels in the brains of Alzheimer's victims.
Alzheimer's Disease Associated Protein (ADAP)
a protein that seems to appear only in the tissue of people with Alzheimer's. It has been found in both the brain and spinal fluid.
Amyloid precursor protein (APP)
a normal, essential substance made by brain cells that contain Beta Amyloid. In Alzheimer's, APP is cut and releases beta amyloid. Beta amyloid then forms clumps called Senile Plaque.
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
a protein that ferries cholesterol through the bloodstream. The ApoE gene has three variants (or alleles), E2, E3, and E4. Each person inherits an allele from each parent. Ninety percent of the population inherit one copy of ApoE3, and 60 percent inherit two copies.
Cortisol
the major natural Glucocorticoid (GC) in humans. It is the primary stress hormone.
Dementia
significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning.
Hippocampus
an area buried deep in the forebrain that helps regulate emotion and memory.
Multi-Infarct Dementia
dementia brought on by a series of strokes.
Nerve Growth Factor
a substance that occurs naturally in the body and enhances the growth and survival of cholinergic nerves.
Neurotoxic
poisonous to nerves or nerve tissue.
Nucleus basalis of Meynert
a small group of cholinergic nerve cells in the forebrain and connected to areas of the cerebral cortex.
Pseudodementia
a severe form of depression resulting from a progressive brain disorder in which cognitive changes mimic those of dementia.
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