Product Set-up & Completion Summary

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Objective/Purpose-

My Final Product has two separate parts. The first part is my experiment with my screening test that I developed during my Original Work. The test was made to be short and efficient. To test it, I put it against the MOCA test, a test currently used for patients who are suspected with dementia. I did this to bring some validity to my test, and compare how accurate my test it. 

The second part of my project is a pamphlet that talks about the holistic approach on Alzheimer’s disease. The project was brought up by my mentor. He told me his patients ask him a lot of questions as to what they can do themselves to slow down this disease. So, I took up some of the questions and did extensive research to bring answers to these inquiries. The purpose of this is to answer patient questions and extend more knowledge as to how patients can take extra precaution if they are battling Alzheimer’s disease. 

 

Materials used-

1. Scientific Databases (Pubmed, Cochrane)

2. Canva

3. “Patients” ages 80-40

4. Original work screening test

5. MOCA Test

 

People involved-

The pamphlet that I made was suggested by my mentor, and he told me about questions certain patients had. I talked to him about the questions and what specifies the patients brought up. For the experiment part of my project, I called the Prestonwood court to administer the tests to a few residents. Once I interviewed them, I got to administer the test to a few other adults. This was to gain understanding of how well my test worked around varying ages.

 

Description of Process-

First I went out and sought an assisted living home that would be willing to ask residents if they could be part of my project. This was not difficult, because, my grandmother works at Preston wood court, an assisted living center. Once I got into contact with the project manager, I just had to wait till she got approval from a few residents to be part of my test. During spring break I was able to see 3 people but only actually interview 2. Then, I also interviewed a few relatives to gather data from varying ages. 

For the pamphlet, I had to use scientific databases to research certain vitamins and supplements and their effects of Alzheimer’s disease. I had to make sure the experiments that I used as evidence had blind patients and blide administrators, as well as the experiment was on actual patients and not just in vitro. Then once I compiled a bunch of information, I filtered out the information that was not important. Then I setup my information on a pamphlet in Canva. For each segment, I wrote a paragraph or so of my research for each segment I put into the pamphlet.  

 

Utilization of Higher-Level Thinking Skills-

For the project, I had to learn how to research. I had to question credibility and bias in every source. I wanted to make sure my information was accurate and not trying to push an agenda. I also had to go through and look at what type of experiments was conducted. The patients and administrators have participate in a certain way to fit a systematic review. 

I also learned better communications skills. My experiment required me to make phone calls to managers, and send emails back and forth to the head of the assisted living center. I was nervous, but I knew how to professionally communicate. Also communication for the MOCA test is a specific skill too. The administrator needs to be able to give instructions, but cannot coach. My mentor walked me through on how to administer the MOCA test properly. 

 

Results/Conclusions-

In the end, for my pamphlet, I came up with 4 sections: how to manage stress, manage cardiovascular disease, helpful vitamins, and polyphenols. These were all proven to be beneficial for patients struggling with Alzheimer's disease. For my test, the results were inconclusive. This was due to the fact that my sample size was way too small, and nothing was randomized or blind. Although it was inconclusive, the actual table results held up pretty well as a determining factor. 

Along the way, there were many hardships through this final semester that was unexpected, so not including senioritis. However, I was able to prove that I can prevail from anything I set my mind to. I came into ISM thinking I was one of the most unqualified people to have gotten in. I came out finding that I am stronger and smarter than I depicted myself to be. With this gauge, I hope to move forward and push myself to the limits and try new things, and see how I can handle them. This was truly an amazing experience, and working on this project taught me how to be thorough and learn from just the simple things around you.

 

Application/Meaning-

The pamphlet is actually something I will be giving to my mentor. This will help my mentor give something physical to his patients so that they know some basic work that they can do from their side to slow down this illness. The paragraphs will be entered into the UT Southwestern database, so if patients want to know the science behind why I put a certain section into the pamphlet, they can read more about it rather than having to scavenge the internet. 

My smell test, although not as applicable, still holds promising. I think if more people were tested and tested properly for an experiment, then we could potentially see a smell test be added to the screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease in the future.