Risk reduction booklet - glossary

ApoE
A protein whose main function is to transport cholesterol. The gene for this protein is on chromosome 19 and is referred to as ApoE
Absolute risk
An individual’s risk of developing a disease over a time-period
Alzheimer’s disease
A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain, leading to loss of mental functions such as memory and learning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia
Amyloid
A protein deposit associated with tissue degeneration; amyloid is found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s
Animal models
Normal animals modified mechanically, genetically or chemically, used to demonstrate all or part of the characteristics of a disease. With models, researchers can study the mechanisms of a disease and test therapies
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Drugs that reduce inflammation by modifying the body’s immune response
Antioxidants
The body’s defence system against free radicals, as they mop up these destructive molecules
Atherosclerosis
The build-up of fatty materials within the walls of the arteries
Axon
The arm of a nerve cell that normally transmits outgoing signals from one cell body to another. Each nerve cell has one axon
Beta amyloid
A specific type of amyloid normally found in humans and animals. In Alzheimer’s disease, beta amyloid is abnormally processed by nerve cells and becomes deposited in amyloid plaques in the brains of persons with the disease
Body mass index (BMI)
A formula to work out whether a person is overweight, calculated by dividing weight by height
Brain imagingBrain imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allow doctors to monitor patterns of brain activity and help them distinguish between different types of dementia
Cardiovascular
To do with the heart and blood vessels
Cholesterol
A fatty substance mainly made in the body by the liver
Cognitive ability
Includes mental abilities such as judgment, memory, learning, comprehension and reasoning
Cognitive decline
The loss of cognitive abilities leading to impairment in memory, reasoning, planning, and personality; this represents more than the normal loss of cognitive ability associated with ageing
Cognitive function
Brain functions involving thinking, remembering, learning, reasoning and planning
Cognitive reserve
Definitions vary. Some say it is the ability to compensate for acquired brain damage; others say it relates directly to brain size or the density of connections within the brain
Cognitive training
A type of training in which patients practice tasks designed to improve mental performance. Examples include memory aids, such as mnemonics, and computerized recall devices
Control group
In a clinical trial, the group that does not receive the treatment being studied or does not carry out a particular behaviour being examined. This group is compared to the group that receives the treatment or carries out the behaviour, to see if it makes a difference
Curcumin
The active ingredient of the Indian curry spice turmeric
Cytokine
A small protein released by cells that has a specific effect on the interactions between cells, on communications between cells or on the behaviour of cells. It is thought that cytokines produced by fat cells make blood cells liable to inflammation. Any resulting inflammation in the brain could lead to the loss of nerve cells, leading to dementia.
Dementia
The loss of intellectual functions (such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning) of sufficient severity to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions
Dendrite
A branched extension of the nerve cell body that receive signals from other nerve cells. Each nerve cell usually has many dendrites
Diastolic pressure
When measuring blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure is the lowest pressure, which occurs in between heartbeats
Enzyme
A protein produced by living organisms that promotes or otherwise influences chemical reactions
Epidemiology
The study of the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people
Familial Alzheimer’s disease
A rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that runs in families
Folic acid/folate
Folic acid, known as folate in its natural form, is one of the B-group of vitamins. It cannot be stored in the body, therefore is needed in the diet every day.
Free radicals
Highly reactive molecules capable of causing damage in brain and other tissue. Free radicals are common by-products of normal chemical reactions occurring in cells. The body has several mechanisms to deactivate free radicals
Frontal lobe dementia
Also known as fronto-temporal dementia. Refers to the parts of the brain that are affected, at the front and side of the brain
Genetic engineering
The process of altering the genetic material of a cell or organism so as to change its ability to function or to produce new gene products
HDL cholesterol
The ‘protective’ cholesterol. High density lipoproteins return excess cholesterol to the liver
High blood pressure
High blood pressure happens if the walls of the larger arteries lose their natural elasticity and become rigid, and the smaller vessels become narrower. Also called hypertension
Homocysteine
An amino acid which has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and dementia. A high intake of the vitamin folic acid keeps homocysteine levels down and may be protective
HRT
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment given to women to relieve the symptoms associated with the menopause
Hydrogenation
Hydrogenation is the chemical adding of hydrogen to a material. It is used to turn liquid vegetable oils into solid saturated fats to improve their texture, flavour and shelf life. The resulting product is used as an ingredient in many processed foods.
Hypertension
High blood pressure
Lewy bodies
Deposits of protein that develop inside dead or dying brain cells
Lewy body dementia
Form of dementia accounting for about one case in five where Lewy bodies are the distinguishing feature
LDL cholesterol
The more ‘harmful’ cholesterol. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body
Lipids
Fatty substances in the blood, including HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
Longitudinal studies
Studies in which the same group of individuals are examined at regular intervals throughout a given time period
Mediterranean diet
A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, olive oil and cereals with some fish and alcohol and very little dairy products and meat. So-called because of its association with countries like Spain, Italy and Greece
Mini-stroke
A mild stroke that recovers very quickly, although not as quickly as a TIA – see Transient ischaemic attack, below
Mixed dementia
A mixture of two or more dementias, found in the same person, with one or other form usually dominating
Monounsaturated fats
A type of fat found in foods such as olive oil, walnut oil, rapeseed oil, avocado, nuts, and in some margarines and spreads. Monounsaturated fats can help lower the blood level of LDL cholesterol but do not lower the ‘protective’ HDL cholesterol level
Multi-infarct dementia
A form of dementia caused by a number of strokes in the brain. The onset of MID is usually abrupt and often progresses in a stepwise fashion
Myocardial infarction
A heart attack
Neuron
The basic nerve cell of the nervous system
Neurotransmitters
Specialized chemical messenger (e.g., acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) that sends a message from one nerve cell to another. Most neurotransmitters play different roles throughout the body, many of which are not yet known
Non steroid anti inflammatory drugs
see NSAIDS
Nootropics
Also called "smart drugs". Substances claimed to boost cognitive abilities. They include drugs already prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease, but also drugs prescribed for other conditions such as attention deficit disorder or narcolepsy; and other non-prescription substances like Gingko biloba and stimulants such as caffeine
NSAIDS
A group of drugs used to relieve pain and to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, piroxicam and diclofenac
Observational study
A type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured but no attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given)
Oestrogen
Female sex hormone which may be able to protect the brain from dementia
Omega-3
A type of fatty acid found in fish oils. Eating foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent blood clotting and help reduce triglyceride levels
Omega-6
A type of fatty acid found in a range of seeds, vegetables and vegetable oils. Our intake of omega-3 fatty acids has gone down whilst our intake of omega-6 fatty acids has gone up. The rise of processed foods, which use vegetable oils, has significantly increased our intake of omega-6 causing an imbalance which may affect the brain
Pick’s disease
Form of dementia that accounts for about five per cent of cases, characterised by shrinkage of the frontal and temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex
Placebo
An inactive material in the same form as an active drug, —for example, a sugar pill
Plaques
Deposits of beta-amyloid in the brain which are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease
Polyunsaturated fats
A type of fat found in foods from plant and fish, such as cornflower oil, sunflower oil, fish oil, and some margarines and spreads. Eating polyunsaturated fats rather than saturated fats helps to reduce the blood cholesterol level
Progestin
A synthetic form of the female sex hormone progesterone
Protein
Proteins are molecules that do much of the work in the body such as creating structures, utilising and storing energy and transmitting signals. They are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs
Punch drunk syndrome
Caused by head trauma, such as that experienced by people who have been punched many times in the head during boxing. Also known as dementia pugilistica
Randomised controlled trial
A study in which participants are assigned by chance to one of two or more groups in a clinical trial to receive treatment, no treatment or possibly a placebo
Relative risk
Used to compare the risk in two different groups of people
Retrospective study
A study in which the outcomes have already happened to the participants before the study started
Risk factors
One of a number of possible factors – eg genes, diet, high blood pressure – which contributes to the risk of developing a disease. Factors that have been shown to increase one’s odds of developing a disease
Saturated fats
A type of fat found mainly in food from animal sources (particularly dairy and meat products)
Single-infarct dementia
A form of vascular dementia caused by a single stroke in the brain
Skinfold thickness
A measure of the thickness of fat under the skin. When measured at various sites on the body, it can be used to give an estimate of total body fat composition
Smart drugs
See Nootropics
Sodium
A chemical element found in salt. Can contribute to high blood pressure
Statins
Drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels
Systolic pressure
Systolic blood pressure occurs when the beat or contraction of the heart forces the blood around the circulation
Tangles
Sometimes known as neurofibrillary tangles, these are clumps of tau protein found in dead and dying brain cells and are another hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease
Tau
The major protein that makes up neurofibrillary tangles found in degenerating nerve cells. Tau is normally involved in maintaining the internal structure of the nerve cell. In Alzheimer’s disease, tau protein is abnormally processed
TIA
See Transient ischaemic attack
Transfats
Fats formed during the solidifying of vegetable oils through a process called hydrogenation, used by food manufacturers to extend the shelf life of food
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
A brief stroke episode, recovering within 24 hours and with no evidence of permanent damage. May be a warning of an impending stroke
Vascular dementia
A form of dementia caused by a number of tiny strokes in the brain or other damage to the brain circulation

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