Key Terms

anticonvulsants

medications used to prevent or treat epileptic seizures; many anticonvulsants are also used to treat certain psychiatric conditions

Coenzyme Q10

a nutrient that the body produces and can be found in many foods; CoQ10 facilitates the conversion of food to energy and is a powerful antioxidant that can promote health in cardiovascular and neurologic conditions

cretinism

altered intellectual disability, small stature, and thickening of the facial features

gangliosides

glycosphingolipids that are highly available in a healthy nervous system and carry most of the sialic acid residues in the brain

hepatotoxicity

injury to the liver, or impaired liver function, due to the exposure to certain drugs, food additives, alcohol, solvents, some plants, and other environmental toxins

hippocampus

a brain structure located just below the ventricles of the brain that is a focal point for emotion, memory, and the autonomic nervous system

homocysteine

an amino acid that can be found in meat; high levels are associated with the development of heart and neurologic conditions

ketogenic diet

a diet that is high in fat with adequate protein and low in carbohydrates to produce ketosis; has been used successfully to treat certain neurologic conditions, such as pediatric epilepsy

Mediterranean diet

a diet that emphasizes foods that are plant based and contain healthy fats, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and olive oil as the main source of fat

oxidative stress

an imbalance in the body’s production of free radicals and antioxidant defense that can set the stage for a variety of neurologic conditions

phospholipids

a type of fat (lipid) that also contains phosphorus