ACE inhibitors: Medications used to treat heart failure and reduce blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels. ACE stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme.
Advocate: A person who supports or speaks on behalf of someone else, particularly in legal or healthcare settings.
Aggregation: The process where particles, such as proteins, clump together to form larger masses. In the context of dementia, it often refers to the build-up of abnormal protein clumps in the brain, which can interfere with cell function and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia.
Allied health professional (AHP): A healthcare worker who provides services related to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians.
Alpha-synuclein protein: A protein that forms clumps called Lewy bodies in the brain, which are associated with Lewy body dementia.
Amyloid: An often proteinacious substance that deposits in disease. In the context of Alzheimer's, amyloid beta builds up in the brain and forms plaques.
Amyloid beta: A specific type of amyloid protein found in and around brain cells. It is involved in the formation of plaques in Alzheimer's disease.
Amyloid beta gene: The gene responsible for producing amyloid beta proteins.
Amyloid beta plaques: Clumps of amyloid beta protein that accumulate in the brain and are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Antipsychotic medication: Drugs used to manage symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations.
Aphasia: A condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate, including speaking, understanding, reading, or writing.
Cardiovascular health: The health of the heart and blood vessels.
Cholinesterase inhibitors: Medications (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) that increase levels of chemical messengers important for memory, thought, judgement, perception and processing information and cognition.
Chromosome: Structures within cells that contain DNA and genes.
Chronic: Long-lasting or recurring over time.
Clinically distinct: Clearly different from other conditions based on medical signs and symptoms.
Cognition: The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, including thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving.
Cognitive functions: Aspects of thinking, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.
Cognitive rehabilitation: Therapies and strategies to improve cognitive functions in people with cognitive impairments.
Cognitive reserve: The brain's ability to compensate for damage and maintain function as we age.
Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST): A treatment involving activities and discussions to improve cognitive functioning in people with dementia.
Cognitive tests: Assessments to measure cognitive abilities and detect impairments.
Cognitive therapy: A type of therapy focused on changing negative patterns of thinking to improve mental health.
Complementary therapies: Treatments used alongside conventional medicine, such as acupuncture or massage.
Cortex (brain region): The outer layer of the brain involved in complex functions like perception, thought, and memory.
CRISPR technology: A tool for editing genes and modifying DNA. CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.
CT scan: A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body, including the brain. CT stands for computed tomography.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS): A treatment where small wires deliver electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain.
Degeneration: The process of losing structure or function in cells or tissues over time.
Delirium: A sudden change in mental state, causing confusion and reduced awareness of the environment.
Diagnostic tools: Tests and equipment used to diagnose diseases and conditions.
Disorientation: Confusion about time, place, or identity.
DNA: The molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms.
Donanemab: A drug targetting amyloid beta that may slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease.
Dopamine: A chemical messenger in the brain that helps control movement and coordination.
Dopamine agonists: Medications that mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain.
Dopaminergic neurons: Nerve cells that produce and use dopamine to send signals in the brain. These neurons play a key role in regulating movement, mood, and cognitive functions.
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing.
Electromyography (EMG): A diagnostic test that measures the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them.
Enteric nervous system: A network of neurons located in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. It is often referred to as the ‘second brain’ because it can operate independently of the brain and spinal cord, controlling digestion and coordinating the complex movements and functions of the gut.
Fatigue: Extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
Foot drop: A condition where one foot feels weak or drags due to muscle wastage, causing difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot.
Frontal lobe: The part of the brain located at the front, responsible for personality, behaviour, decision-making, and movement.
Frontotemporal: Related to the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes), which control personality, behaviour, language, and speech.
Genetic predisposition: An increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on one's genetic makeup. It means having a higher risk due to inherited genes, but it does not guarantee that the condition will develop.
Geriatrician: A doctor who specialises in the care of older adults.
Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that are not actually present.
High-throughput screening approaches: Methods used to quickly test large numbers of samples for biological activity.
Holistic therapies: Treatments that consider the whole person, including physical, mental, and social aspects.
Impairment: A loss or reduction of function in a body part or ability.
Intermittent: Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.
Intervention: Actions taken to improve a condition or situation, such as medication or therapy.
Involuntary: Without conscious control. Involuntary movements are those that occur without being intended.
Lecanemab: A drug targeting amyloid beta protein that may slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease.
Lewy bodies: Abnormal clumps of protein, particularly alpha-synuclein, found inside nerve cells in the brain. These are associated with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Lewy neurites: Abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein protein found in the nerve cell projections. They are often seen alongside Lewy bodies in the brains of people with Lewy body dementia.
Life-limiting: A condition or illness that is expected to shorten a person's life.
Lifestyle interventions: Changes in daily habits to improve health, such as diet, exercise, and quitting smoking.
Lived experience: The personal knowledge gained through direct, first-hand involvement in everyday events.
Lumbar puncture: A medical procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower back to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A medical imaging technique that uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's organs and tissues.
Memantine: A drug often used to treat Alzheimer's disease by improving symptoms related to memory and thinking.
Memory clinic: A healthcare service that specializes in diagnosing and treating memory disorders.
Memory lapses: Temporary periods of forgetfulness or confusion.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): A condition involving slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills.
Mitochondria: Structures within cells that produce energy.
MND-SMART trial: A large study investigating treatments for motor neuron disease (MND/ALS) at multiple research centres.
Molecular mechanisms: The processes at the molecular level that cause or contribute to a condition or disease.
Motor neuron disease (MND): A group of conditions that affect the nerves controlling voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing, and swallowing.
Motor neurons: Nerve cells that send signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles to control movement.
Multidisciplinary: Involving multiple types of healthcare professionals working together as a team.
Muscle rigidity: Stiffness in muscles that can limit movement and flexibility, commonly seen in conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Muscle wasting: Reduction in muscle size and strength due to lack of use or disease.
Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that can affect how genes function.
Nerve conduction test: A diagnostic test that measures how quickly electrical signals travel through the nerves.
Neurodegenerative condition: A disease that causes the gradual loss of nerve cell function and structure.
Neuroleptic drugs: Medications used to manage psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations.
Neurological: Related to the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Neurologist: A doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system.
Neurons: Nerve cells that transmit messages throughout the body to control functions such as movement, sensation, and thought.
Neurotransmitter: Chemicals in the brain that transmit signals between nerve cells.
Nonfluent: Difficulty in producing speech or language, often due to damage in specific areas of the brain.
Occupational therapists: Health professionals who help people engage in everyday activities to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Oligodendrocyte: A type of cell in the central nervous system responsible for producing myelin, a substance that wraps around nerve fibres to insulate them and speed up the transmission of electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord.
Onset (of dementia): The beginning or early stages of dementia symptoms.
Orthoptists: Specialists who diagnose and treat disorders of eye movements and coordination.
Palliative care: Medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness, aimed at improving quality of life.
Palsy: Paralysis or muscle weakness, often seen in conditions like cerebral palsy or Bell's palsy.
Plaques (on the brain): Clumps of protein that accumulate between nerve cells in the brain, commonly seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Progressive: Increasing in severity over time.
Proof-of-concept: Initial evidence demonstrating that a treatment or intervention is effective.
Psychiatric: Related to mental health and disorders.
Psychological therapies: Treatments focused on mental and emotional health, such as counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Quinine: A medication sometimes used to relieve muscle cramps.
Reminiscence therapy: A therapy that involves discussing past experiences to improve mood and mental wellbeing in people with dementia.
Respite care: Temporary care provided to give a break to the regular caregivers of a person with a chronic illness.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): A class of medications used to treat depression and anxiety by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain.
Semantic: Related to semantic memory, which stores knowledge about the world, such as facts, concepts, and meanings of words.
Small vessel disease: Microscopic changes to small blood vessels within the brain, which can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia.
Social isolation: A lack of social connections, which can negatively impact mental and physical health.
Spasticity: Muscle stiffness or tightness that can interfere with movement, commonly seen in conditions like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy.
Statins: Medications often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
Substantia nigra (region of the brain): An area of the brain involved in movement control, affected in Parkinson's disease.
Supranuclear: Relating to the areas of the brain located above the nuclei, often involved in controlling eye movements.
Symptomatic relief: Treatments aimed at relieving symptoms rather than curing the underlying condition.
Systolic (blood pressure): The pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pushes blood through the body.
Tangles (see plaques): Twisted fibres of a protein called tau found inside brain cells, associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Targeted treatment: Therapies designed to specifically target and treat the underlying causes of a disease.
Tau (proteins in and around the cells): Proteins that can form tangles inside brain cells, contributing to Alzheimer's disease.
Tominersen: An experimental drug designed to reduce the production of a harmful protein in Huntington's disease.
Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs): Brief episodes of reduced blood flow to the brain, causing temporary stroke-like symptoms.
Vascular: Related to blood vessels.
Visual perception: The ability to interpret and make sense of visual information from the surroundings.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the glossary above or any information found on the UK DRI website, please contact Research Communications Manager Alex Collcutt (alex.collcutt@ukdri.ac.uk).