Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (sometimes called cholinesterase inhibitors) are a class of drugs that have been used to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in a significant number of cases.  They work by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger in the brain that helps memory and other thinking skills. Donepezil is the generic name of a commonly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitor.

Alzheimer's disease
Named for Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1907, Alzheimer's disease causes gradually increasing dementia, including memory loss, confusion, problems with judgment, planning and concentration, and personality changes; in its later stages it also affects physical abilities. The disease's causes, cures and preventions are unknown.

Antioxidant
Antioxidants are nutrients and other substances that protect cells in the body from the damage caused by "oxygen free radicals" (molecules that seek to become oxidized, a process that harms body tissues and has been linked to many diseases, including stroke, heart disease, and cancer).

Cholinesterase inhibitors
See "Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors."

Dementia
Dementia is a generic term for the deterioration of mental abilities, including the ability to take care of oneself on a daily basis; it may also involve personality changes. Dementia has many causes, including disease, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Neuropsychological evaluation
A neuropsychological evaluation helps in the diagnosis of dementia.  It consists of a number of written and/or oral tests that measure a person's mental functioning.  The individual's results are compared with the normal range of scores, which helps determine the presence and extent of mental deterioration.