Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease
   Alzheimer's disease is a progressive deterioration of the brain, first described in 1907 by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). It is the most common form of dementing, or mind-depriving, -illness, affecting cells in an area of the brain important to memory. Alzheimer's disease or Alzheimer's syndrome most commonly strikes elderly adults, but it has also been known to afflict people in their late twenties. Formerl this dis ase was known as pre-senile dementia or just plain senility. It was erroneously attributed to "hardening of the arteries." The disease involves degeneration of nerve cells rather than blockage of blood vessels.
   The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, and there is no known cure for it. Investigators are studying the role of such possible factors as viruses, genetic influences, abnormal immunological responses, and environmental or toxic agents.

Dictionary of eponyms. . 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alzheimer's disease — Alzheimer redirects here. For other uses, see Alzheimer (disambiguation). Alzheimer s disease Classification and external resources …   Wikipedia

  • Alzheimer's disease — [älts′hī΄mərz] n. [after A. Alzheimer (1864 1915), Ger physician who first described it] a progressive, irreversible disease characterized by degeneration of the brain cells and commonly leading to severe dementia …   English World dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — (senium præcox), 1912, title of article by S.C. Fuller published in Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases; named for German neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864 1915). The name was not common before 1970s; shortened form Alzheimer s first recorded… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — ► NOUN ▪ a form of progressive mental deterioration occurring in middle or old age. ORIGIN named after the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer (1864 1915) …   English terms dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — Alz·hei·mer s disease älts .hī mərz , ȯlts , alts , alz also Alzheimer disease mər n a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usu. starts in late middle age or in old age as a memory loss for… …   Medical dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — a progressive form of dementia occurring in middle age or later, characterized by loss of short term memory, deterioration in behaviour and intellectual performance, and slowness of thought. The demonstration of damage to the cholinergic pathways …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — Alz|heim|er s dis|ease [ altshaımərz dı,ziz ] noun uncount a serious illness affecting your brain that makes it difficult for you to remember things and becomes worse as time passes. Alzheimer s disease is often simply called Alzheimer s …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Alzheimer's Disease — [[t]æ̱ltshaɪmə(r)z dɪsiːz[/t]] also Alzheimer s N UNCOUNT Alzheimer s Disease is a condition in which a person s brain and body gradually stop working properly …   English dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease — UK [ˈæltshaɪmə(r)z dɪˌziːz] / US [ˈɑltshaɪmərz dɪˌzɪz] noun [uncountable] a serious illness affecting your brain that makes it difficult for you to remember things and becomes worse as time passes. Alzheimer s disease is often simply called… …   English dictionary

  • Alzheimer's disease and hallucinations —    Alzheimer s disease is also known as senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). Both eponyms refer to the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer (1864 1915), who in 1906 was the first to present post mortem histological findings associated… …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”