Abbreviations and acronyms

Just some of the common acronyms, abbreviations and terms used within the ApoE4.info forums.

123...

23andMe -- shorthand for www.23andme.com (a DNA testing website)

A

A1c -- shorthand for HbA1C - Hemoglobin A1c

AD -- Alzheimer’s disease.

AHS -- Ancestral Health Symposium or Society

AHS16 -- Ancestral Health Symposium 2016 (site of 2016 ApoE4.info meet-up)

ALA -- alpha lipoic acid.

ALA -- Alpha-Linolenic Acid or α-Linolenic acid (an Omega−3 fatty acid. It is one of two essential fatty acids (the other being linoleic acid))

ALZ -- shorthand for Alzheimer’s

AMPK -- 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (an enzyme that plays a role in cellular energy homeostasis)

ApoA-1 -- Apolipoprotein A-I ("good cholesterol")

ApoB -- Apolipoprotein B ("bad cholesterol")

APOE -- This isn't an abbreviation, it's the actually name of the gene that codes for the protein Apolipoprotein E (though the name derives from an abbreviation of the protein). It is written using all caps, and is italicized.

APOE-ε2 -- The ε2 (epsilon-2) variant of the APOE gene, which makes apolipoprotein E2.

APOE-ε3 -- The ε3 (epsilon-3) variant of the APOE gene, which makes apolipoprotein E3.

APOE-ε4 -- The ε4 (epsilon-4) variant of the APOE gene, which makes apolipoprotein E4.

apoE -- apolipoprotein E.

apoE2 -- apolipoprotein E2.

apoE3 -- apolipoprotein E3.

apoE4 -- apolipoprotein E4.

APP -- Aβ (amyloid beta) Precursor Protein

ATP -- Adenosine Triphosphate (transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism)

Aβ -- Amyloid Beta (the plaque that accumulates in Alzheimer's)

B

BBB -- Blood Brain Barrier (Highly selective semipermeable membrane barrier that separates the circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system (CNS). The blood–brain barrier allows the passage of water, some gases, and lipid-soluble molecules by passive diffusion, as well as the selective transport of molecules such as glucose and amino acids that are crucial to neural function. Furthermore, it prevents the entry of lipophilic potential neurotoxins by way of an active transport mechanism mediated by P-glycoprotein)

BDNF -- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF acts on certain neurons of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, helping to support the survival of existing neurons, and encourage the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. In the brain, it is active in areas vital to learning, memory, and higher thinking.)

BG -- Blood Glucose

BMI -- Body Mass Index

BMR -- Basal Metabolic Rate (The amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting).

BP -- Blood Pressure

BTW -- By The Way

C

CAC -- Coronary Artery Calcium (Calcium Score)

CAD -- coronary artery disease.

CDC -- Center For Disease Control

CFS -- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CGM -- Continuous Glucose Monitoring

CIMT -- Carotid Intima Media Thickness (imaging test to detect plaques in the carotid (neck) arteries)

CIRS -- Chronic Inflammation Response Syndrome (An acute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans and possibly spirocyclic drimanes; as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You can also get CIRS from a brown recluse spider bite; from fish that have been contaminated with ciguetera; and from Borrelia burgdorferi, the bug that causes Lyme Disease.)

CO -- Coconut Oil

CoA -- Coenzyme A, a coenzyme used in processing fatty acids and citric acid

COQ10 -- Coenzyme Q 10 (A supplement, helps convert food into energy)

CPAP -- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (a machine to help a person who has obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during sleep)

CPT -- Current Procedural Terminology (the code set used to bill outpatient and office procedures)

CR -- calorie restriction. A reduction in the energy content of a diet without a concomitant reduction in (other) essential nutrients. Term often used to mean a diet practiced with the intention of slowing the aging process per se.

CRISPR -- Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (a genome editing tool)

CRP -- C-reactive protein (a blood test marker for inflammation in the body)

CT -- Computed Tomography (scan)

CVA -- Cerebrovascular accident (The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain)

CVD -- cerebral vascular disease.

D

DASH -- Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension

DHA -- docosahexaenoic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina)

DHA/EPA -- Docosahexaenoic Acid /Eicosapentaenoic Acid (the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil)

DHEA -- Dehydroepiandrosterone (hormone in body and supplement used to improve sex drive, build muscle, fight the effects of aging, and improve some health conditions)

DNA -- Deoxyribonucleic acid 

DP -- Diastolic Pressure (Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure (maximum during one heart beat) over diastolic pressure (minimum in between two heart beats)

dx -- shorthand for diagnosis

E

E4 -- shorthand for ApoE4

EBT -- Electron Beam (Ultrafast CT (scan) to determine Coronary Artery Calcification)

EEG -- Electroencephalogram (test that detects electrical activity in your brain)

EOAD -- early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

EPA -- eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega-3 component of fish oil).

ERMI -- Environmental Relative Moldiness Index

EVCO -- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

EVOO -- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

EWG -- Environmental Working Group (non-profit, non-partisan organization assisting consumer choice. http://www.ewg.org/)

F

FA -- fatty acid.

FAD -- Familial Alzheimer’s disease.

FB -- Facebook (social network website)

FBG -- Facebook (social network website)

FBS -- Fasting Blood Sugar

FM -- Fibromyalgia

FMD -- Functional Medicine Doctor

FMD -- Fasting Mimicking Diet

FMP -- Functional Medicine Practicioner

FODMAPs -- Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides Monosaccharides Polyols ( a collection of short chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols found in foods naturally or as food additives)

Free T3 -- Free Triiodothyronine (a blood test ordered primarily to help diagnose hyperthyroidism)

Free T4 -- Free Thyroxine (thyroid function test)

FTD -- Frontotemporal Lobe Dementia (Dementia characterized by progressive neuronal loss predominantly involving the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Second most common dementia after Alzheimer’s. Typically manifests between the ages of 55 and 65, men and women equally.)

FWIW -- For What It's Worth

FYI -- For Your Information

G

g -- Gram

GF -- Gluten Free

GI -- Gastrointestinal

GI -- Glycemic Index

GP -- General Practitioner

GRAS -- Generally Recognized As Safe

GSE -- Grape Seed Extract

H

HbA1c -- Hemoglobin A1c (blood test for average level of blood sugar, glucose, over the past 2 to 3 months)

HBOT -- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

HCY -- shorthand for Homocysteine

HDL -- High-Density Lipoprotein (good cholesterol)

HDL (lab) -- Health Diagnostic Laboratory (now defunct)

HDL2b -- (HDL cholesterol can be divided based on density, size and protein composition. The HDL2 subfraction (HDL2a, HDL2b) consists of larger, more buoyant particles while particles in the HDL3 subfraction (HDL3a, HDL3b, HDL3c) are smaller and denser. The largest and most buoyant HDL particle is HDL2b. HDL2b is an indicator of how well excess lipids are removed from cells, it positively correlates with heart health)

HEPA -- High-Efficiency Particulate Air (type of air filter)

HERTSMI -- (a test for mold)

HFD -- High Fat Diet

HFLC -- high-fat, low-carb.

HIIT also HIT -- High-Intensity Interval Training (type of aerobic exercise)

HMO -- Health Maintenance Organization

HOMA-IR -- Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (a method used to quantify insulin resistance and beta-cell function: fasting glucose times fasting insulin divided by 405. (FG x FI/405) Desired range: 1.0 or lower. Average in US is 1.75, too high. Over 2.5 is insulin resistance. Distinct linear association between HOMA-IR and chronic disease, including Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease)

HRT -- Hormone Replacement Therapy

hs-CRP -- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that the liver makes when there is inflammation in the body. This marker of inflammation can be measured with a hs-CRP test)

HSF -- High-Saturated Fat

Hx -- shorthand for history

I

IAD -- Inhalational Alzheimers

IBS -- Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS-D/C -- Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Diarrhea/Constipation

IDE -- Insulin-Degrading Enzyme

IF -- intermittent fasting.

IFM -- Institute for Functional Medicine

IGF-1 -- Insulin Like Growth Factor -1 (IGF-1 is a primary mediator of the effects of growth hormone (GH). Signaling through the insulin/IGF-1-like receptor pathway is a significant contributor to biological aging in many organisms.)

IL-17a -- Interleukin-17A (most notable role of IL-17 is its involvement in inducing and mediating proinflammatory responses. IL-17 is commonly associated with allergic responses)

IL-6 -- Interleukin 6 (an interleukin that acts as both a pro-inflammatory cytokine and an anti-inflammatory myokine. IL-6 seems to play a major role in the process of acute or chronic stress (i.e. depression, anxiety) suppressing the immune system. IL-6 stimulates the inflammatory and auto-immune processes in many diseases and has been shown to lead to several neurological diseases through its impact on epigenetic modification within the brain. IL-6 also has extensive anti-inflammatory functions in its role as a myokine when elevated through exercise.

IMHO -- In my humble opinion

IMO -- In My Opinion

IR -- Insulin Resistance or Insulin Resistant

IRB -- Institutional Review Board

J

Jelly - shorthand for jealous

K

KB -- Ketone Bodies

KD -- Ketogenic Diet

Keto -- shorthand for ketogenic, ketosis

L

LC -- Low Carbohydrate

LCFA -- long-chain fatty acid.

LCHF, also LC/HF -- Low Carbohydrate, High Fat

LCHHF -- Low Carb High, Healthy Fat

LDL-c -- Low-density lipoprotein -cholesterol (the amount of cholesterol which is estimated to be contained with LDL particles)

LDL-p -- Low-density lipoprotein particles

LDL-R -- Low-density lipoprotein receptor

LFHC -- low fat high carb.

LOAD -- late onset Alzheimer’s disease.

LOL -- Laughing Out Loud

Lp(a) -- Lipoprotein(a) (a small, dense, highly inflammatory lipoprotein, a risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases)

Lp-PLA2 -- Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 (enzyme that appears to play a role in the inflammation of blood vessels, Lp-PLA2 test helps evaluate risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD))

LPS -- Lipopolysaccharides (an endotoxin)

M

MARCoNS -- Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci

MCI -- mild cognitive impairment.

MCFA -- medium-chain fatty acid.

MCT -- medium-chain triglyceride.

MD -- Medical Doctor

MEND -- Metabolic Enhancement for NeuroDegenerative Disease

MetS -- metabolic syndrome.

MIND -- (a diet which is a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets)

MPI Cognition -- (organization based on Dr Bredesen's research/protocol to prevent and reverse cognitive decline. www.mpicognition.com)

MTHFR -- Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (a gene that provides instructions for making an enzyme that processes amino acids. Those with this gene mutation have issues processing amino acids and often have elevated homocysteine levels)

mTOR -- Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin, formerly Mammalian Target of Rapamycin  (The mTOR pathway is a central regulator of mammalian metabolism and physiology, with important roles in the function of tissues including liver, muscle, white and brown adipose tissue, and the brain.)

MUFA -- monounsaturated fatty acid (plant-based fats)

N

N=1 -- (Where data is collected from one datapoint, i.e. one person's experience)

n-3 fatty acids -- Omega-3 fatty acids, or ω-3 fatty acids 

NAC -- N-acetyl cysteine (supplement primarily used as a mucous thinner, but also replenishes intracellular levels of the natural antioxidant glutathione (GSH), helping to restore cells’ ability to fight damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS))

NAD -- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide  (coenzyme involved in reduction-oxidation reactions, carrying electrons from one reaction to another)

NCD -- Neurocognitive Disorders

ND -- Naturopathic Doctor

net carb -- shorthand for net carbohydrate (grams of total carbohydrates minus its grams of fiber. The body cannot digest fiber, therefore, it does not raise your blood sugar levels or trigger an insulin response. For low-carb dieters, fiber carbs don't count as carbs.)

NF-kappaB or NF-κB -- Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (a strong gene-altering and inflammation-triggering molecule)

NFTs -- Neurofibrillary Tangles

NGF -- Nerve Growth Factor

NIA -- National Institute on Aging

NIH -- National Institutes of Health

NMR  -- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (cholesterol blood test)

NR -- Nicotinamide Riboside

NSAID -- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (a drug class that groups together drugs that provide analgesic and antipyretic effects, and, in higher doses, anti-inflammatory effects.)

NT-proBNP -- N-Terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (a blood test primarily used to help detect, diagnose, and evaluate the severity of heart failure)

O

OGT -- Oral Glucose Tolerance (Test)

OGTT -- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (Measures the body's ability to use glucose (blood sugar), the body's main source of energy. Test can be used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes.)

OMG -- Oh My God/Gosh

OSA -- obstructive sleep apnea.

OTC -- Over the Counter (non prescription drug)

OTOH -- On the Other Hand

oxLDL -- oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein

P

PA -- Physician Assistant

PCOS -- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCP -- Primary Care Physician

PD -- Parkinson's Disease

PET -- Positron Emission Tomography (scan)

PLOS -- Public Library of Science (PLOS Medicine is a peer-reviewed weekly medical journal)

PM -- Private Message

PMID -- Pub Med Identifier (unique identifier number used in PubMed)

POV -- Point of View

PPBG -- Postprandial Blood Glucose (the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in the blood after a meal)

PUFA -- polyunsaturated fatty acid. (fatty acids that contain more than one (poly) double bond in their backbone. Found in common oils - corn oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil. Each double bond is a point of flexibility, thus PUFAs are more liquid at low temperature. Those double bonds are also points of of weakness/oxidation. When you have oxidation, you have oxygen free radical release and can be quite inflammatory.)

Q

Q&A -- Question and Answer

R

RBC -- Red Blood Cell Count

RBC EPA + DHA -- Red Blood Cell Count of Eicosapentaenoic Acid + Docosahexaenoic Acid (the two primary components fish oil)

RCT -- Randomized Controlled Trials

redox -- shorthand for reduction-oxidation

ROS -- Reactive Oxygen Species (formed as a natural byproduct of the normal metabolism of oxygen and have important roles in cell signaling and homeostasis.  However, during times of environmental stress (e.g., UV or heat exposure), ROS levels can increase dramatically. This may result in significant damage to cell structures. Cumulatively, this is known as oxidative stress.)

RS -- Resistant Starch

RT -- Resistance Training

Rx -- shorthand for prescription, prescribe

S

SAB -- Scientific Advisory Board

SAD -- Standard American Diet

SCFA -- Short Chain Fatty Acids

SCI -- Subjective Cognitive Impairment (First phase in Alzheimer's progression where the individual is still scoring in the normal range but feels their thinking process isn’t what it used to be, probably lasts around 10 years)

sdLDL -- Small Density Low-Density Lipoprotein (the LDL which tends to oxidize)

SF -- Saturated Fat

SFA -- saturated fatty acid.

SIBO -- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Sirt1 -- Sirtuin 1 (an enzyme that deacetylates proteins that contribute to cellular regulation)

SNP -- Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (The most common type of genetic variation among people. Each SNP represents a difference in a single DNA building block, called a nucleotide)

snpedia -- Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms - Pedia (a wiki investigating human genetics)

T

T1DM -- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

T2D -- Type 2 Diabetes (known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes)

tau -- not an abbreviation or acronym. The "tangles" that accumulate in Alzheimer's disease

TBD -- To Be Determined

TBI -- traumatic brain injury.

TC -- Total Cholesterol

TG -- Triglycerides

TL -- Total Lipids

TMG -- Trimethylglycine (a supplement, generally taken for healthy levels of homocysteine)

TMI -- Too Much Information

TNF -- Tumor Necrosis Factor (a pro-inflammatory cytokine)

TSH -- Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone  (blood test is used to check for thyroid gland problems)

TY -- Thank You

U

UCP -- Uncoupling Proteins

UFA -- Unsaturated Fatty Acid

V

VAP -- Vertical Auto Profile (Cholesterol test which augments the standard profile with additional measurements)

VIP -- Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (nasal spray)

VLDL -- Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)

VLF -- Very Low Fat

VOCs -- Volatile Organic Compounds

VSL#3 -- (a high potency probiotic, doesn't seem to be an acronym)

W

WHI -- Women's Health Initiative (long-term national health study focused on strategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women)

WHO -- World Health Organization

WRT -- With Regard To, With Reference To, With Respect To

X

XO -- shorthand for a kiss and a hug

Y

YMMV -- Your Mileage May Vary

OTHER

β-amyloid -- Beta Amyloid (the plaque that accumulates in Alzheimer's)