Abstinence
Abstinence is the conscious act of not indulging in activities or substances that give pleasure. Abstinence most often refers to refraining from sex for religious or personal reasons, but could also refer to avoiding drugs, alcohol, caffeine, or other substances. Abstinence is sometimes taught as the de facto method of “safe sex” in sex education programs, which fails to teach the importance of contraceptives and STI prevention.
Complete abstinence (refraining from all sexual activity) is not the only version of abstinence. Some people practice partial abstinence, or outercourse, which entails refraining from PIV sex specifically for the purpose of avoiding pregnancy or an STI.
ADHD
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental health disorder that involves multiple symptoms, like difficulty paying attention, the inability to focus on a specific task for an extended period of time, and feelings of restlessness. The presence of these behaviors is only classified as ADHD when it is persistent, as it is not uncommon to experience restlessness or inattention every once in a while.
ADHD can be difficult to diagnose in adults. There is overlap between some of the symptoms of ADHD and other disorders, such as anxiety or depression. This is compounded by the fact that many adults with ADHD have other mental disorders with similar symptoms as well. If you frequently experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor to potentially get a diagnosis.
Agender
Agender is a gender identity under the nonbinary and transgender umbrella. It refers to individuals who don’t have any gender at all. This is distinct from the nonbinary identity which describes anyone who falls outside of the gender binary. While they are most widely recognized as falling under the transgender umbrella, some agender individuals may not describe themselves as such; it is up to the individual to self identify.
Agender is a relatively recent term, with its first recorded use coming from a forum post in 2000 on the website UseNet. In a chatroom titled “alt. messianic”, a user said “God is amorphous, agender, […] so image can’t be a physical or gender or sexual thing.” Other terms for agender include genderless, genderfree, and neutrois.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects mental capabilities and memory. It was coined by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, a doctor who noticed abnormalities in the brain tissue of a recently deceased patient. Alzheimer’s is most common in people ages 65 and older, with the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s increasing with age. It is currently estimated that over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today.
Alzheimer’s is the seventh most common cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of dementia. It affects those afflicted with it by deteriorating the nerve cells in the brain which control learning and memory. At first, Alzheimer’s manifests as mild memory loss, a normal symptom of aging. However, as the damage caused by the disease progresses, the loss in memory becomes more severe, leading to the inability to carry out daily tasks. As of now, Alzheimer’s is irreversible, but research is being conducted to help understand the disease and treat those afflicted with it.