TGA Glossary
These terms were researched in WebMD.com, Wikipedia.com, & MerckManuals.com
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Mad Cow Disease = Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) causes the brain to become damaged over time. Dementia is a symptom.
Malnutrition = Albumin concentration under 3 g/dL.
MCI = Mild Cognitive Impairment = Decline in cognition including concentration, communication, memory, and orientation that may affect a person’s ability to conduct activities of daily living (ADLs).
Mental Health Counselor = A counselor with a master's degree working under the guidance of a licensed medical doctor often times in a clinic setting.
Microglia = A type of neuroglia (glial cell) located throughout the brain and spinal cord. Microglia account for 10–15% of all cells found within the brain As the resident macrophage cells, they act as the first and main form of active immune defense in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia (and other neuroglia including astrocytes) are distributed in large non-overlapping regions throughout the CNS. Microglia are key cells in overall brain maintenance - they are constantly scavenging the CNS for plaques, damaged or unnecessary neurons and synapses, and infectious agents. Since these processes must be efficient to prevent potentially fatal damage, microglia are extremely sensitive to even small pathological changes in the CNS.
Migraines = A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and can be so severe that the pain is disabling. Warning symptoms known as aura may occur before or with a headache. These can include flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling on one side of the face or in your arm or leg.
MSG = Monosodium Glutamate = Sodium Glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids. Monosodium glutamate is found naturally in tomatoes, cheese and other foods. MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups. It was first prepared in 1908 by Japanese biochemist Kikunae Ikeda, who was trying to isolate and duplicate the savory taste of kombu, an edible seaweed used as a base for many Japanese soups. MSG as a flavor enhancer balances, blends, and rounds the perception of other tastes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe designation. A popular belief is that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort.
MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging = use a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed, cross-sectional images of the brain.
MRI Angiography = Magnetic Resonance Imaging use a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed, cross-sectional images of arteries to evaluate for stenosis, occlusions, or aneurysms.
mTBI = See Concussion.
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Neurological Exam = Checks reflexes, muscle tone, muscle strength, sensory function, gait, posture, coordination, and balance. Also may ask questions to test thinking, judgment, and memory.
Neurologist = A doctor who specializes in neurology is called a neurologist. The neurologist treats disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as: Cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke. Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis.
Neurotransmittor = Chemical messengers are endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission. They transmit signals across a chemical synapse, such as a neuromuscular junction, from one neuron (nerve cell) to another target neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell. Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles in synapses into the synaptic cleft, where they are received by receptors on the target cells. Neurotransmitters play a major role in shaping everyday life and functions.
Normal Cognition = Ability to recognize and name familiar objects and follow simple directions.
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Occlusion = A blockage of a vein or artery.
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Panic Attack = An intense episode of sudden fear that occurs when there’s no apparent threat or danger. In some cases, you may mistake the symptoms of a panic attack with a heart attack. You might experience a single panic attack. Or you might have multiple panic attacks throughout your life. If left untreated, recurrent panic attacks — and the fear of experiencing them — may lead you to avoid other people or public places. This may be a sign that you’ve developed a panic disorder.
Parkinson's Disease = Mostly affects older people but can also occur in younger adults. The symptoms are the result of the gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls body movement and that causes a gradual loss of muscle control. Symptoms tend to be mild at first and can sometimes be overlooked.
Pathophysiology = Seeks to explain the physiological processes or mechanisms whereby such condition develops and progresses.
Pathogenesis = Of a disease is the biological mechanism (or mechanisms) that leads to the diseased state. The term can also describe the origin and development of the disease, and whether it is acute, chronic, or recurrent.
Perimenopause = Means around the menopause, refers to the menopause transition years, a time before and after the date of the final episode of flow. Often normal memory loss due to other stressors.
Persistent Anxiety = A popular term for chronic anxiety, variously attributed to a serotonin imbalance; PA has a familial tendency and may have hereditary factors. Symptoms can be worry, irritability, insomnia, disturbed sleep, loss of concentration, tachycardia, tremor, hot flashes, nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, SOB, headaches, or myalgia.
PPA = Primary Progressive Aphasia = This is the second major form of frontotemporal degeneration that affects language skills, speaking, writing and comprehension. PPA normally comes on in midlife, before age 65, but can occur in late life also. The two most distinctive forms of PPA have somewhat different symptoms
Psychiatrist = Medical doctors (MDs) who graduate from medical school, have a year of medical internship and have 3 years of residency in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders. Because of their medical training, psychiatrists can prescribe medication -- probably the most commonly known distinction between the two fields.
Psychogenic Amnesia = (PA) = Also known as dissociative amnesia, is a memory disorder characterized by sudden retrograde episodic memory loss, said to occur for a period of time ranging from hours to years. These memory gaps involve an inability to recall personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature. Often utilized in literature, TV, movies, and plays for theatrical story-line adaptations.
Psychologist = have a doctoral degree in an area of psychology, the study of the mind and human behavior. They’re not medical doctors. A psychologist can have a Ph.D. in philosophy or a PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology. Typically, they do 1-2 years of internship. Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists are also trained in giving psychological tests (like IQ tests or personality tests).
Psychotherapist = Aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to improve relationships and social skills.
Pulsatile Tinnitus = The type of ear noise that is perceived as a rhythmic pulsing that is often in time with the heartbeat. It can be experienced as a thumping or whooshing sound. It is sometimes referred to as vascular tinnitus because, in the majority of cases, it is related to disturbances in the blood flow.