Medical terminology and Alzheimer's disease Q&A
During an initial screening or diagnostic appointment, it's okay to have questions. Here are some common terms that you have may have heard before, but it can't hurt to have expert Dr. Manisha Santosh Parulekar review the basics.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA
During an initial screening or diagnostic appointment, it's okay to have questions. Here are some common terms that you have may have heard before, but it can't hurt to have an expert review the basics.
Q. What is a PET scan?
A. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan takes detailed pictures of the brain to show how it is functioning and what it looks like inside. When a doctor orders this scan to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, they are looking to see if there is a buildup of abnormal, sticky proteins in the brain that are known to cause the condition.
Q. What is a lumbar puncture test? Is this test the same as a spinal tap?
A. In a lumbar puncture, a doctor inserts a thin needle into the lower back to collect a small sample of the fluid that bathes and protects the spinal cord and brain. This procedure is the same as a spinal tap. During an Alzheimer's evaluation, doctors analyze this spinal fluid to check for the presence and levels of abnormal proteins to confirm if the disease is the cause for the dementia/memory problem.
Q. What is amyloid plaque?
A. Amyloid plaque is like sticky clumps of cellular garbage that build up between the nerve cells in the brain. In a healthy brain, these leftover protein pieces are naturally broken down and washed away, but in a person with Alzheimer's disease, they stubbornly stick together to form hard clusters that damage brain cells and block them from sending important messages to one another.
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