The Ongoing Study of Alzheimers Disease Essay - 775 Words

The Ongoing Study of Alzheimers Disease Article Summary Imagine your greatest fear of a loved one growing old. Could it be a fear of your dearest going through tremendous pain and suffering, or perhaps just the fear of him or her dying? Now imagine that this loved one, with whom you have shared many wonderful memories, no longer recognizes you. It kind of worries you a bit now, doesn’t it? Although Alzheimer’s disease can be very hard on those stricken and their families, do not feel as if your case is a hopeless one. There are studies being conducted as to the cause and possible prevention methods of this disease. One such study has taken place at the convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame on Good Counsel Hill in†¦show more content†¦In their first set of conclusions, they confirmed prior studies by noticing that those further educated were less likely to be susceptible. Researchers later found that essays written in young life showing low idea density and grammatical complexity to be ve ry strong indicators of a later problem with Alzheimer’s. They also found several factors unrelated to the subjects’ writings which could contribute to the dementia of Alzheimer’s disease. There was evidence that those who had suffered from strokes and head trauma showed signs of dementia. They also attributed low levels of folic acid in subject blood to Alzheimer’s patients. Lastly, Snowdon and fellow researchers studied the emotions of the nuns. They found that those expressing more positive emotions were more likely to live longer than those expressing negative emotions. To sum up, the Nun Study is breaking new important ground on Alzheimer’s disease. Background Knowledge The book doesn’t delve too deeply into the causes or prevention methods of Alzheimer’s disease. 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