Glossary of dementia terms

Common terms

ACE-III

Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, third edition. UK standard cognitive screening test scored out of 100. See ACE-III explained.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

The basic self-care tasks: washing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility, continence.

Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT)

Legally binding document refusing specific medical treatments in advance under the Mental Capacity Act. See wills and advance decisions.

Alzheimer's Disease

The commonest cause of dementia, ICD-11 6D80. See Alzheimer's Disease.

Amyloid

Abnormal protein that accumulates as plaques in Alzheimer's Disease. Can be measured in Cerebrospinal Fluid or on amyloid PET.

Anticholinergic burden

The cumulative effect of medicines that worsen cognition by blocking acetylcholine. Common in older adults on multiple medicines.

APOE4

Genetic variant that increases Alzheimer's Disease risk but does not cause it. Not recommended for routine testing under NICE.

ARIA

Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities. Side effect of anti-amyloid antibody therapies (Lecanemab, Donanemab). Usually asymptomatic.

Attendance Allowance

UK non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age needing help with personal care. See benefits.

BPSD

Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. ICD-11 6D86. See agitation and aggression.

Capacity

The ability to make a specific decision at a specific time. Mental Capacity Act 2005 governs assessment and best-interests decisions. See Mental Capacity Act.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The regulator of health and social care providers in England. Inspects and rates care homes and other services.

Carer's Allowance

UK benefit for people providing 35 hours or more of care per week to someone in receipt of qualifying benefits. See Carer's Allowance.

Cholinesterase Inhibitor

Drug class (Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine) used in mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease. See Cholinesterase Inhibitors.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)

NICE-recommended structured group programme for mild to moderate dementia. See CST.

CT scan

Computed Tomography. Brain imaging using X-rays. See CT brain scan.

DAT Scan

123I-FP-CIT SPECT. Measures dopamine transporter activity; supports diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy Bodies. See DAT Scan.

Delirium

Acute confusional state, ICD-11 6D70, usually with a medical cause. See acute confusion.

Dementia

Cognitive impairment in two or more domains, severe enough to interfere with independent activities of daily living. Multiple ICD-11 codes by cause.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)

ICD-11 6D82. Characterised by visual hallucinations, fluctuation, Parkinsonism, REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder. See DLB.

Deputyship

Court of Protection appointment to make decisions for someone without capacity, where no Lasting Power of Attorney exists. Slow and expensive compared to LPA.

DVLA

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Must be notified of a dementia diagnosis. See driving and DVLA.

ECG

Electrocardiogram. Records heart electrical activity. Required before starting Cholinesterase Inhibitors. See ECG.

Fazekas Scale

Visual rating scale for white matter hyperintensities (Small Vessel Disease) on MRI. Grades 0 to 3. See visual rating scales.

FDG-PET

Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography. Measures brain glucose metabolism. See FDG-PET.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

ICD-11 6D83. Affects frontal and temporal lobes. Includes Behavioural Variant and Primary Progressive Aphasia. See FTD.

GCA scale

Global Cortical Atrophy scale (Pasquier). Grades cortical volume loss 0 to 3 on MRI or CT.

Glymphatic system

Brain waste-clearance system, most active during sleep.

Herbert Protocol

UK police scheme to pre-register information about a person with dementia who may go missing. See wandering.

ICD-11

World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision. UK standard for dementia coding. See ICD-11 codes.

IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)

Complex everyday tasks: managing finances, medication, shopping, cooking, transport.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

Legal document naming attorneys to make decisions if the person loses capacity. See LPA.

Lecanemab and Donanemab

Anti-amyloid antibody therapies for early Alzheimer's Disease. Not currently recommended for routine NHS use by NICE. See Lecanemab and Donanemab.

MCI

Mild Cognitive Impairment, ICD-11 6D71 Mild Neurocognitive Disorder. Measurable cognitive change without significant functional impairment. See MCI.

Memantine

NMDA antagonist used in moderate to severe Alzheimer's Disease. See Memantine.

Memory clinic

Specialist multidisciplinary service for diagnosis and management of dementia. NHS or private. See NHS Memory Clinics.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

UK law (England and Wales) governing decisions for adults whose capacity is impaired.

Mini-ACE

5-minute cognitive screening test, scored out of 30. See Mini-ACE.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Preferred structural brain imaging for dementia. See MRI.

MTA scale

Medial Temporal Atrophy scale (Scheltens). Grades hippocampal atrophy 0 to 4 on MRI.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS funding for care where needs are primarily health-related. Means-test-free. See care homes.

NICE

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Issues UK clinical guidelines including NG97 (Dementia) and TA217 (Alzheimer's medication).

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

UK non-means-tested benefit for adults under State Pension age with daily living or mobility difficulties.

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

FTD subtype with progressive language difficulty. Non-fluent, semantic and logopenic variants. See PPA.

PINCH-ME

Mnemonic for reversible causes of behavioural change in dementia: Pain, Infection, Nutrition, Constipation, Hydration, Medication, Environment.

REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder

Acting out dreams during REM sleep. Highly specific to alpha-synuclein conditions including Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

ReSPECT

Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment. UK standard form for recording emergency care preferences.

Risperidone

The only antipsychotic licensed in the UK for short-term treatment of persistent aggression in Alzheimer's Disease.

Sarcopenia

Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

SPECT

Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Nuclear medicine imaging used for perfusion or DAT studies in dementia.

Sundowning

Late-afternoon worsening of confusion and restlessness in dementia. See sundowning.

Tau

Abnormal protein that accumulates as neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's Disease and other tauopathies.

Vascular Dementia

ICD-11 6D81. Caused by Cerebrovascular Disease. See Vascular Dementia.

Validation Therapy

Communication approach that prioritises emotional truth over factual correction. See Validation Therapy.