Alzheimers Dictionary

paranoid delusion: A mental illness where the person believes others are planning to harm or persecute him or her in some way.

plaque: An abnormal buildup of minerals, fat, proteins and tissue on a body part.

progressive: When applied to a disease, progressive indicates the illness worsens over time.

PS1 (presenilin-1): A brain protein. Mutated forms of PS1 are associated with familial Alzheimer's disease.

psychosis: A mental disorder in which one's ability to accurately define reality is seriously impaired.

secretase: A family of enzymes found in the brain that degrade APP (amyloid precursor protein).

sedative: A medication that relaxes and calms a person, lowering anxiety levels and promoting sleep.

seizures: Convulsions caused by abnormal electric activity in the brain.

selegiline: A medication used to treat early stage dementia.

stages of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Stage 1 Alzheimer's: No observable cognitive impairment.
• Stage 2 Alzheimer's: A slight decline in cognitive function, including mild memory loss.
• Stage 3 Alzheimer's: Other people begin to notice cognitive decline.
• Stage 4 Alzheimer's: Short-term memory is increasingly impaired, including forgetting recent events. Decision making impairments begin, and the patient may begin to withdraw from others.
• Stage 5 Alzheimer's: Patient displays worsening cognitive impairment, and requires aid with some daily tasks.
• Stage 6 Alzheimer's: Patient has severe cognitive impairment, may undergo personality changes and requires full-time care.
• Stage 7 Alzheimer's: Patient does not respond to external stimuli, is often mute and has no control over movement.

sundowning: Alzheimer's symptoms often worsen in the evenings. This tendency is referred to as sundowning.