Alzheimer’s Disease

Write 4 pages thesis on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease is a rare neurological condition. incidence increases with age, from 5 per 1000 person-years in those

a. Subject Selection 3 marks The sample population, selected for the purpose of this research study, will comprise individuals who have reasonable exposure to fertilizers and elements identified as having the potential for risk of causing Alzheimer’s disease.

In total, the study proposes to conduct the research on 40 individuals. Three-fourths or 30 of the population will be patients who manifest symptoms of Alzheimer’s and a quarter or 10 will be people with normal health. This will help in ascertaining whether any elements present in the environment, that the normal persons consume, have the potential for immunization, due to which these people are not manifesting any symptoms.

The population, as far as possible will equally represent both genders and also different age groups ranging from 50 to 90 years so that the effects of the chemical elements on varying ages can also be ascertained. Similarly, the researcher will also make conscious efforts to ensure that the population includes representatives from different backgrounds on the basis of race, culture, and economic aspects.

Exposure and Outcome Measurement:( 5 marks) The use of fertilizers in recent years, to yield better agricultural harvests, resulting in the depletion of minerals such as magnesium which is “important for human health” (Foster 2004:195). The fertilizers, on the other hand, contain chemicals such “as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium” that cause Alzheimer’s (195).

Therefore, the experiment will include testing soil for chemical content and measuring the subjects’ exposure and its outcomes on the disease. Evidence also shows that hyperphosphorylated T-protein causes the “destabilization of microtubules” which can aggravate conditions such as Alzheimer’s (Nazem & Mansoori 2008:202).

Thus, the study will encompass testing of the agricultural soil of the habitats of the population. In addition, samples will also be taken from their normal sources of food for lab tests for chemical content. Besides, if deemed necessary during the course of the actual research, observatory tests will also be conducted where the sample population will be given regulated for a certain period of time to measure any reduction in chemical presence.

Potential Biases (4 marks): There is no potential bias in this case as the study does not involve any personal interest or racial, regional, or religious aspects of the student. However, a possible bias can be seen in terms of the knowledge of the researcher that fertilizers can be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease and this may lead to conducting the research only to find supportive evidence of the claim or endorsing prejudiced findings.

However, to obviate this, the research will give equal significance to locating and including evidence that challenges the researcher’s hypothesis also so as to obtain a balanced view of the issue. Similarly, the researcher will also eliminate any “judgmental bias in the selection and interpretation” of the relevant evidence (MacCoun 1998:262).