Brain Glossary

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Alzheimer’s Disease: a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to the inability to learn new information, loss of memory, mood and behavioral changes, and language dysfunction.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia.

Anxiety: a normal temporary emotion in which people feel fear, worry, stress, and develop physical symptoms such as increased heart rate in response to a stressor.

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life.

Anxiety Disorders: a group of mental disorders in which constant worry and fear can keep someone from carrying on with their everyday life.

Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Astrocytes: star shaped glial cells within the brain and spinal cord that have many functions including maintaining blood vessels while also playing a role in repairing and scarring after a brain injury.

Axons: threadlike portions of the neuron that allows neuros to communicate with each other by carring information from one neuro to another.

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Cerebellum: part of the brain, at the back of the skull, that plays an important role in motor control and fuctions such as balance, coordination, and posture.

Cerebrum: large part of the brain that is divided into the left and right cerebral hemisphers

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Dementia: a broad category of prpgressive brain diseases that are characterized cognitive impairments, including but not limited to memory loss, emotional problems, difficulty with language, and behavioral changes.

Dendrites: threadlike portion of the neuron that allows neurons to communicate with ecah other by receiving information from other neurons.

Depression: mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

E

Ependymal cells: cells which form the lining of the ventricles (fluid filled spaces) within the brain.

Epilepsy: a neruological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.

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Glial Cells: the most abundant cell types in the brain and spinal cordwhose various functions are to support neurons.

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Hippocampus: a part of the brain located in the temporal loves which plays an important role in memory formation.

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Limbic System: a system of neurons and networks withing the brain which helps control emotions.

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Microglia: glial cells within the brain and spinal cord that are a main form of defense.

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