Glossary of Terms
- Acetylcholinesterase
- An enzyme that helps degrade the nerve transmitter substance "acetylcholine". Acetylcholinesterase is normally found at the point at which two nerves communicate.
- Amyloid
- An abnormal substance deposited between and within cells. Amyloid stains with the Congo Red stain. In Alzheimer's disease amyloid is abnormally deposited in neuritic plaques and in small blood vessels.
- APP
- Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) is a protein of uncertain function that is normally found in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, APP is abnormally degraded resulting in the formation of amyloid.
- Knock-out mice
- An experimental strain of mice that has been genetically engineered in the laboratory such that a specific gene is deleted from the DNA of the mouse. Knock-out mice are extremely useful tools that scientists use to study the function of the gene that has been "knocked-out" of the DNA.
- Mutation
- An abnormal permanent change in the DNA sequence. Mutations can be thought of as "typographical errors" in the DNA code.
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- Neuritic plaques
- Abnormal collections of nerve processes surrounding a central core of amyloid. Neuritic plaques, together with neurofibrillary tangles, are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
- Neurodegenerative
- An abnormal deterioration of the nervous system.
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Abnormal bundles of filaments in nerve cells in the brain. These filaments contact on protein tau and are of the typical features of Alzheimer's disease.
- NSAIDs
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- PS1
- Presenilin-1 (PS1) is a protein produced in brain cells. Inherited mutations of the PS1 gene on chromosome 14 are a cause of Familial Alzheimer's Disease.
- PS2
- Presenilin-2 (PS2)
- Secretase
- A group of enzymes found in brain cells (alpha-secretase, beta-secretase, and gamma-secretase. The secretases function to degrade APP. The abnormal degradation of APP can result in the accumulation of amyloid in the brain and the development of Alzheimer's disease.
- Transgenic mice
- An experimental strain of mice that has been genetically engineered in the laboratory such that a specific gene is added to the DNA of the mouse. Transgenic mice are an invaluable resource for scientists who wish to study the function of a specific gene.
