Alzheimer's Disease Glossary
Navigating a diagnosis of an age-related disease can be overwhelming, especially with all the new medical terms involved. Whether you're preparing for a doctor’s visit or simply want to better understand an Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis, this glossary serves as a quick reference to help you define and understand commonly used terms.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
A rare form of Alzheimer’s that appears before 65 years of age, also known as younger-onset, and can be caused by a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
Familial Alzheimer’s disease
A rare, inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease that typically appears before 65 years of age.
Frontal lobes
A region at the front-most part of the brain that is involved in processing mood, planning for the future, setting goals, and judging priorities, among other functions.
Glutamate
The most abundant communication chemical in the brain that transmits messages between nerve cells (neurons). During Alzheimer’s disease, the brain accumulates too much of this chemical, causing damage and cell death.
Hippocampus
A brain structure that is a hub for learning and short-term memory.
Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
The most common form of Alzheimer’s disease, appearing after 65 years of age. This type of Alzheimer’s can be caused by a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle.