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.
Parietal lobes
A region at the top of the brain that is involved in processing sensory information, spatial awareness, navigation, and body movement.
Tau
A protein that stabilizes the tube-like skeleton of a nerve cell (neuron), which transports molecules, like nutrients, across the cell. Tau is associated with multiple brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Tau tangles
A buildup of abnormal tau results in thread-like structures called tangles, commonly observed in Alzheimer’s disease.
Temporal lobes
A brain region located above both ears that is involved in processing hearing, memory, language, and emotion.