key term - Alzheimer's Disease

Definition

Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive neurocognitive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die. It's the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently.

Related terms

Amyloid plaques: Clumps of beta-amyloids that build up between nerve cells disrupting communication in Alzheimer's disease.

Neurofibrillary tangles: Twisted strands of tau proteins inside neurons which block nutrient transport causing cell death in Alzheimer's disease.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): A slight but noticeable and measurable decline in cognitive abilities including memory and thinking skills. A person with MCI is at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's or another dementia.