Glossary
If some of the words used in this Guide Site are new to you, check here for an explanation of commonly used terms and phrases in relation to Alzheimer's disease.
Acetylcholine
How is acetylcholine associated with Alzheimer's disease?
How is acetylcholine associated with Alzheimer's disease?
Activities of Daily Living
What are activities of daily living, and how do they relate to the day-to-day functioning of someone with Alzheimer's disease?
What are activities of daily living, and how do they relate to the day-to-day functioning of someone with Alzheimer's disease?
Agnosia
What does it mean when my doctor says my loved one has agnosia?
What does it mean when my doctor says my loved one has agnosia?
Alpha-Synuclein
What role does alpha-synuclein play in dementia?
What role does alpha-synuclein play in dementia?
Alzheimer's Disease
Is Alzheimer's disease the same as dementia?
Is Alzheimer's disease the same as dementia?
Antecedent
Why should I pay attention to antecedents when dealing with Alzheimer's behaviors?
Why should I pay attention to antecedents when dealing with Alzheimer's behaviors?
Aphasia
What does it mean when the doctor says my loved one has aphasia?
What does it mean when the doctor says my loved one has aphasia?
ApoE 4
What is the ApoE 4 gene, and how does it affect Alzheimer's risk?
What is the ApoE 4 gene, and how does it affect Alzheimer's risk?
Apraxia
What does it mean when the doctor says my loved one is showing apraxia?
What does it mean when the doctor says my loved one is showing apraxia?
Behavior
What does it mean when my doctor refers to behavioral symptoms?
What does it mean when my doctor refers to behavioral symptoms?
Beta Amyloid
How does beta amyloid contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease?
How does beta amyloid contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease?
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
What are cholinesterase inhibitors and how do they treat Alzheimer's disease?
What are cholinesterase inhibitors and how do they treat Alzheimer's disease?
Cognitive
What does it mean when my doctor refers to cognitive symptoms?
What does it mean when my doctor refers to cognitive symptoms?
Consequence
Why should I pay attention to consequences when dealing with Alzheimer's behaviors?
Why should I pay attention to consequences when dealing with Alzheimer's behaviors?
CT Scan
My doctor has recommended a CT scan. What is it and how do CT scans work?
My doctor has recommended a CT scan. What is it and how do CT scans work?
Delusion
What are delusions? How might my loved one experience delusions?
What are delusions? How might my loved one experience delusions?
Dementia
Are dementia and Alzheimer's the same thing?
Are dementia and Alzheimer's the same thing?
Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
What's the difference between early-onset and early-stage Alzheimer's?
What's the difference between early-onset and early-stage Alzheimer's?
Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
Is early-stage Alzheimer's different from early-onset Alzheimer's?
Is early-stage Alzheimer's different from early-onset Alzheimer's?
Executive Functioning
How do I know if Alzheimer's is affecting executive functioning?
How do I know if Alzheimer's is affecting executive functioning?
Glutamate
How is glutamate associated with Alzheimer's disease? A definition of glutamate.
How is glutamate associated with Alzheimer's disease? A definition of glutamate.
Hallucination
What are hallucinations? How might my loved one experience a hallucination?
What are hallucinations? How might my loved one experience a hallucination?
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
What are instrumental activities of daily living, and how do they relate to the day-to-day functioning of someone with Alzheimer's disease?
What are instrumental activities of daily living, and how do they relate to the day-to-day functioning of someone with Alzheimer's disease?
Lewy Bodies
What are Lewy bodies and how do they relate to dementia?
What are Lewy bodies and how do they relate to dementia?
Lifespan Respite Care Act
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Act?
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Act?
Literal Paraphasia - A Speech and Language Problem
If my loved one has speech and language problems, could it be literal paraphasia?
If my loved one has speech and language problems, could it be literal paraphasia?
Memory
When a person has a memory impairment, what does that mean?
When a person has a memory impairment, what does that mean?
Mixed Dementia
Can a person have Alzheimer's and another kind of dementia?
Can a person have Alzheimer's and another kind of dementia?
MRI
What is an MRI and how is an MRI used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's?
What is an MRI and how is an MRI used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's?
Neurotransmitters
What are neurotransmitters and what role do they play in Alzheimer's disease?
What are neurotransmitters and what role do they play in Alzheimer's disease?
Orientation
What are doctors referring to when they ask whether my loved one is oriented? What does orientation mean?
What are doctors referring to when they ask whether my loved one is oriented? What does orientation mean?
PET Scan
What's a PET scan and how is it used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's?
What's a PET scan and how is it used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's?
Plaques
If you're wondering why you keep hearing about "plaques and tangles" in relation to Alzheimer's disease, find out what plaques are and how they affect the brain.
If you're wondering why you keep hearing about "plaques and tangles" in relation to Alzheimer's disease, find out what plaques are and how they affect the brain.
Pseudodementia
What's the difference between dementia and pseudodementia?
What's the difference between dementia and pseudodementia?
Tangles
You've probably heard the phrase "plaques and tangles" in relation to Alzheimer's disease. But what are tangles, and how do they affect the brain?
You've probably heard the phrase "plaques and tangles" in relation to Alzheimer's disease. But what are tangles, and how do they affect the brain?
Tau
How does tau contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease?
How does tau contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease?