Research
Glossary - P to R
This section of the glossary contains words beginning with P or R. There are currently no words in the glossary beginning with Q.
Some definitions include words marked in bold. These words have their own definition within the glossary.
- Palliative care
- Palsy
- PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy)
- Peripheral nervous system
- Pharmacology
- Placebo
- Prevalence
- Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
- Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP)
- Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)
- Protein
- RIG (Radiologically Inserted Gastrostomy)
- Riluzole
- Routes of administration
Palliative care
Treatment to relive the symptoms of a serious illness. It aims to keep patients comfortable, improve quality of life and provide support rather than to treat the disease itself.
PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy)
A tube running in through the stomach wall from the outside of the abdomen that remains in place and can be discreetly hidden under clothing. A nutrient rich liquid diet can be delivered through the tube to provide nutritional support when swallowing and chewing have become difficult. A RIG achieves the same result but is inserted in a slightly different way. For more details, read our information sheet on PEG feeding.
Peripheral nervous system
All of the nerves in the body that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. Compare Central Nervous System.
Placebo
An inert substance given to some patients in a controlled trial of a drug. This helps provide a true picture of the effect of the trial treatment.
Prevalence
The number of people living with a disease at any one time. For example, the prevalence of MND in the UK is approximately seven people in every 100,000.
Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
A rare form of MND in which only the upper motor neurones (those running from the brain to the spinal cord) are damaged. Find out more about different types of MND.
Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP)
A specific form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), but only those motor neurones to the head and neck are affected. This leads to difficulties with chewing, swallowing and speech. PBP affects about 10% of those diagnosed with MND. Find out more about different types of MND.
Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)
A form of MND in which mainly the lower motor neurones (those running from the spinal cord to the muscles) are damaged. PMA affects around one tenth of people diagnosed with MND. Find out more about different types of MND.
Protein
A complex molecule composed of a long chain of amino acid building blocks. Proteins are the principal structural components of the body and also perform a huge range of other functions e.g. enzymes, hormones etc. The structure of a protein molecule is determined by the genetic code.
Riluzole
The first drug to be licensed for the treatment of MND and approved for use on the NHS. It is not a cure but shows a modest impact on survival for people with MND. The brand name for riluzole is Rilutek. Read more about riluzole on our treatments page.
