Glossary
Aliquot
A term used in chemical analysis to mean a portion of a larger whole – for example, a sample taken for chemical analysis.
Alzheimer’s Disease
A neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia (approx. 70% of dementia cases). As the disease progresses, it damages a person’s neurons. The damage begins in someone’s brain 10 to 20 years before any effects are seen. It gets worse over time, and usually starts with memory issues, followed by confusion, difficulty planning, language problems, and behaviour changes. Its causes are still mostly unknown.
Amyloids
A form of protein build-up, amyloids are associated with the development of various diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions. Amyloids themselves can be made up of various types of protein.
Amyloid Beta Antibodies
A type of antibody developed to help treat Alzheimer’s disease. They were, developed in the early 2000s, although the first drug was only FDA-approved in 2021. Their effectiveness is mixed, with some significant side effects. They remain one of the only disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease available.
Amyloid Beta Peptides
The main components of the amyloid plaques that build up in our brains and are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. It is thought that misfolded amyloid beta peptide molecules could cause a chain reaction in the brain, causing other amyloid beta molecules to misfold too.
Antibodies
A type of protein used by our immune systems to identify targets to attack in our bodies. They bind with specific antigens (foreign or harmful substances) found on bacteria and virus cells, ‘tagging’ targets for attack by our immune system’s white blood cells.
APOE4
A type of gene responsible for producing a protein that breaks down fats in our bodies. The presence of one variant of this gene type – APOE4 – has been linked to both Alzheimer’s disease and other cardiovascular diseases. Currently, the presence of APOE4 genes is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Atrophy
Refers to the ‘wasting away’ of part of the body, either partially or fully. In dementia research, brain atrophy can refer to damage occurring in the brain, leading to problems with thinking, memory, mood, or everyday tasks.
Biomarkers
Measurable indicators or substances found in biological samples such as blood and urine. They provide information about a biological process, condition, or disease.
Blood-Brain Barrier
A border that exists between our circulatory system – our blood – and the brain, which controls which chemicals and solutes can get into our central nervous system. As such, it’s a powerful protective barrier from unwanted chemicals harming our brain.
Brain Tissue
The soft substance that makes up our brain, brain tissue, is made up of various types of cells – neurons, glial cells, neural stem cells and blood vessels.
Cognitive Functioning
Refers to our ability to perceive, react, process and understand the world around us, including making decisions and responding to the world around us.
Cohort
A cohort of people is a group who have something in common. Cohort studies are a type of longitudinal study – an approach that follows research participants over a period of time (often many years).
Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term to describe a collection of symptoms experienced when living with diseases or conditions that affect brain health. They are both progressive and persistent, getting worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease is an example of a type of dementia.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Also known as Lewy-body dementia, it is a common form of the disease. Caused by a buildup of proteins into clumps called ‘Lewy bodies’, symptoms can include hallucinations, confusion, sleepiness, and shaking.
Disease-Modifying Treatments
A treatment plan or course of action that alters how a disease behaves, potentially lessening the symptoms or delaying its progression.
Early-Onset (or Young-Onset) Dementia
Early-onset dementia doesn’t refer to a specific type of dementia, only that it has developed before the age of 65. Dementia can affect anyone, at any time in their lives, but gets more likely as we age.
Exposome
The exposome refers to the totality of environmental exposures that we are exposed to throughout our lifetime, starting from conception and pregnancy.
Frontotemporal Dementia
An uncommon type of dementia, it affects the front and sides of our brain – the frontal and temporal lobes. It is more common in younger individuals (those aged 45 to 65) as compared to other types. It can cause language problems and personality changes.
Mild Cognitive Impairment Stage (MCI Stage)
The time period when an individual begins to have early problems with memory or thinking. This can represent a transition from normal, healthy ageing to noticeable impairment – making cognitive tasks more challenging. These often cause difficulties but don’t disrupt daily tasks. MCI can be caused by other health reasons too.
Mixed Dementia
When an individual has more than one type of dementia, for example, Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy-body dementia. Around 1-in-10 people with dementia have ‘mixed dementia.’
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Progressive conditions caused by the gradual loss of structure, function, and death of neurons in the brain or peripheral nervous system. They ‘degrade’ our ability as time progresses, so that we find it harder to perform functions or face increasing cognitive impairment.
Neurons
A neuron cell – or nerve cell – is a single component of a huge network in our brains and nervous system that receives and conducts electrical signals across our bodies. There are tens of billions of neurons in our brains.
Optogenetics
A way of measuring and manipulating activity in neurons using advanced techniques with light. This helps scientists understand activity pathways between neurons in the brain.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”, are a type of chemical compound that are used in a wide array of products. They are a type of POP chemical, meaning they stay in our environment for a long time. There are health concerns related to PFAS pollution.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Types of chemicals, often used in agricultural and industrial settings, that linger in the environment for a very long time, resisting natural breakdown. They can make their way into food chains.
Plaques
Clumps of beta-amyloid proteins that accumulate in the grey matter in our brain, that are commonly associated with neuronal degeneration.
Pollutant
A substance – both manmade or natural – that adversely affects something, which can cause damage to whatever has been exposed.
Statistical Power
The ability of a statistical test or analysis to detect a true effect or relationship between components when it exists.
Tau Proteins
A type of protein that plays a crucial role in stabilising neurons in the central nervous system. Despite this, misfolded tau proteins are associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Tau Tangles
A common biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease, ‘tau tangles’ or just ‘tangles’ are clusters of a type of protein. These proteins are misshapen and end up bundling together in our neurons (cells in the brain). It’s not exactly known how they cause issues like Alzheimer’s disease.
Vascular Dementia
A common form of dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Symptoms include slowness of thought, difficulty planning, confusion and personality changes.