Glossary

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

drugs that block the action of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase that quickly breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

ACP

advance care planning or advance care plan (a non-legally binding document, that is reviewed and updated as a person’s views or situation change, that must be taken into account when acting in a person’s best interests).

Adjuvant analgesics

drugs used to increase pain tolerance when conventional analgesics are non-effective.

Advance care planning

a documented discussion between a health and social care professional, a patient and those closest to them, that covers the patient’s wishes and preferences for their care and treatments in the future (what they want, what they don’t want and who will speak for them).

ADRT

advance decision to refuse treatment, also known as advanced directive in Scotland.

Advanced directives

instructions given by a person before they become mentally or physically incapacitated, that covers their future care and may include ADRT and power of attorney.

Anticholinergics

agents that block the passage of impulses through the parasympathetic nerves.

Antimuscarinics

an agent that counteracts the effects of muscarine or blocks the muscarinic receptors.

Apomorphine

a drug used for acute, intermittent treatment of hypomobility episodes in advanced parkinsonism.

Combativeness

propensity to quarrel.

COMT inhibitors

drugs that block catechol-o-methyl transferase, an enzyme that breaks down dopamine.

DBS

deep brain stimulation, a form of surgery that is used to treat some of the symptoms of Parkinson's.

Dopamine agonists

drugs that stimulate dopamine receptors in the brain.

Duodopa^®

enterally administered levodopa/carbidopa gel used for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's in patients with motor fluctuations and dyskinesias.

Dysarthria

inability to speak normally due to loss of control of the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks or larynx.

Dyskinesia

involuntary movements caused by long term use of levodopa.

Dysphagia

Swallowing difficulties.

Dysphasia

difficulty with speaking and sometimes with comprehending speech.

End of life care

holistic care that focuses on quality of life issues for a person who will die within the next 12 months and those closest to them.

PA: Power of attorney

A power of attorney is a written legal document giving someone else authority to take actions and decisions on your behalf. There are different types of power of attorney according to where you live in the UK.

Enteral administration

feeding or drug administration by the digestion process of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrostomy feeding

feeding through a tube inserted through the skin and stomach wall.

Hypophonia

soft speech resulting from a lack of coordination in the vocal muscles.

LSVT

Lee Silverman Voice Technique is a treatment delivered by a speech and language therapist that focuses on increasing vocal loudness through exaggerated motions and behaviours.

MAO-B inhibitors

Monoamine oxydase B is an enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain. Inhibiting it prolongs the action of dopamine.

Midazolam

a muscle relaxing / anticonvulsant drug generally given as a sedative.

Multidisciplinary team

a variety of health and social care professionals involved in the physical, social, psychological and spiritual care of a person.

Muscarine

A highly toxic alkyloid with neurologic effects.

NCPC

National Council for Palliative Care.

NG tube

Nasogastric tube inserted up the nose and down the throat into the stomach.

NICE

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Palliative care

active total care of people whose condition is not responsive to curative treatment, and involves the physical, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of care.

Paresthesia

an abnormal sensation, such as burning or prickling.

Parenteral administration

drug administration delivered by routes other than the gastrointestinal tract.

PEG

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Person-centred care

co-ordinated and seamless care that promotes satisfaction and improved care outcomes for a person.

Psychosis

a symptom of mental illness where a patient believes their hallucinations and/or delusions are real.

RIG

Radiologically-inserted gastrostomy.

Sialorrhea

excessive salivation.

SIGN

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.

Somnolence

sleepiness.

Specialist palliative care services

pain relief care from a variety of specialist health professionals triggered at certain times in a condition’s trajectory.

Subcutaneously

located or placed just beneath the skin.

Sundowning

a state of disorientation or agitation that sometimes occurs in late afternoon or evening in people with later stage dementia.

Team approach

involving all the disciplines and agencies giving care to a person.

Transdermally

through or by way of the skin.

WHO

World Health Organization.