Research Writing
Assignment
Total
possible points: 200
Intro: Currently 30-50% of seniors over age 85 have
Alzheimer’s disease. The number of new
cases will double every 5 years for seniors approaching 65 years of age. (Chapt
12).
Instructions:
In
a minimum 9-10 pages (includes cover, abstract and reference page), double spaced
document, APA format. This research paper
will discuss several aspects of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). You are always welcome to go over 10 pages,
(do what you need to do to get the below questions answered THOROUGHLY). Be sure to Answer each of the following questions in your
paper for full credit. The references
at the end of book chapt 12 will help. You
can look them up and use them for your answers.
Read the original paper for the information. You will not get credit for quoting the
book. You can also get statistics from www.alz.org.
The
1)
What
are some of the current statistics and future statistics for AD in the US and the
world. What will be the costs and who
will pay for the costs. The book’s statistics are old, find newer
ones.
2)
What
is the currently known pathophysiology of the disease. What body systems are affected and how are they affected. What does the disease do to the body how does
it impact the patient’s life.
3)
What
are the differences between a patient with early onset AD and one who gets it
later in life. Discuss life style,
physical differences, treatment and diagnoses differences.
4)
How
is the disease currently diagnosed and what NEW research is being done to
diagnose.
5)
What
are the current treatments and what NEW research is being done? Discuss some of the medications and their
potential side effects.
6)
What
special nutrition related considerations
might there be for an AD patient? Provide
a one day diet including breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a snack that would be
appropriate for an 80 Y/O AD patient. Make
a chart and insert into the body of your paper.
Include feeding technique ideas to assist the care-giver.
7)
Discuss
some prevention theories: exercise, diet, life-style changes.
Appropriate
sources for current research on this topic are peer-reviewed research articles (try searching in PubMed via the
library – The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is an example
of a peer-reviewed journal, or the references in your book at the end of chapter
12, or www.alz.org, or American Medical
Association). Cite all your sources in
the text paragraphs like this ex:
(Robinson, 2014) and you should have TONS of these in your paper, everything
in your paper should have a citation. Also
put the full reference at the end on the reference page in APA format. If you don’t know already, peer reviewed means
that other health professionals have reviewed it and think the document is
legit. Non-peer reviewed is someone just
writing their opinion in an article or blog and it is just that…their
opinion. Do not use opinions unless it
is yours. If citing from web pages they
must be legit sources. Again, can you go
over 10 pages?…. of course, but make it good. I love the idea that you enjoyed writing this
and learned a lot and did not think it was a chore or just counting pages and
words. Remember, your grandparents,
parents, neighbors, patients, current and future spouses and maybe even
yourself might be one afflicted with AD in the future. Be a part of the solution, not the
problem.
I
will be looking for the following criteria in your paper.
1.
Were
all of the questions above answered satisfactorily? (120 points)
2.
Were
appropriate sources (peer-reviewed articles) utilized for research? (40 points) Minimum of 3 and your book is NOT one of the
3 but looking up the sources in the back of the chapt works. Use the UH library people to help you, that’s
their job.
3.
Were
all sources cited and included in APA formatted bibliography? (20 points) (APA format is on Blackboard if you need to
look at it)
4.
Entertainment
value (was it interesting)? (20 points)
Again,
if having problems finding sources, AARP, or AD websites are good starts, look
under research or articles tab. And also
go to the UH library and search under PUBMED.
The librarians can help you.
Use Alz.org for citation.
