donepezil

n. an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used as a cognitive enhancer in the management of mild to moderate dementia. By inhibiting the degradation of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft, donepezil increases available levels of acetylcholine in the basal nucleus of Meynert, thought to be associated with improved memory and other aspects of cognitive functioning. U.S. trade name: Aricept.

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Psychology term of the day

February 1st 2025

optimism

n. hopefulness: the attitude that good things will happen and that people’s wishes or aims will ultimately be fulfilled. Optimists are people who anticipate positive outcomes, whether serendipitously or through perseverance and effort, and who are confident of attaining desired goals. Most individuals lie somewhere on the spectrum between the two polar opposites of pure optimism and pure pessimism but tend to demonstrate sometimes strong, relatively stable or situational tendencies in one direction or the other. See also expectancy-value model. —optimistic adj.