Research Proposal

Sarah Abdellah
Independent Research G/T
2015-2016
Research Title: The Neurotoxicity of Aluminum: Aluminum Accelerates Alzheimers?
Overview of Research
This research will address the application of neuroscience in neurodegenerative diseases. I am
proposing to conduct document/data analysis in order to determine the effect of aluminum on the
development of Alzheimers disease. Many areas of investigation are present throughout the
research project. The general areas of investigation are neuroscience and neurology while the
specific areas of investigation are neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, Alzheimers
disease, and external factors that accelerate cognitive decline. The problem statement of the
research project is: what is the correlation of external factors on the development of Alzheimers
disease?
Background and History of the Issue
Alzheimers is a progressive brain disorder, which results in gradual cognitive decline and
impairment, specifically memory and language skills. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist,
first discovered Alzheimers in 1906. Although he believed it was a rare disorder, it is one of the
most common neurodegenerative diseases today. With the use of recent technology, it is now
known that neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques are the main characteristics present in a
patient with Alzheimers disease. There are different types of Alzheimers; late-onset
Alzheimers is considered the genetic form of AD in which the gene, APOE 4, is a major risk
factor for the development of Alzheimers. However, early-onset Alzheimers is a more
prominent version of the disease, is caused by environmental and lifestyle factors.
It is very difficult to research the causes of Alzheimers since there are many hypothesis on the
possible causes. Neurologists are currently conducting clinical trials in order to determine
genetic and environmental causes of AD. An environmental factor that is currently being
researched is the overexposure of aluminum in products and its correlation to the development of
Alzheimers disease. During an analysis of patients exposed to aluminum in nature, the amount
of patients diagnosed as dementia increased 15-fold the amount in an area with lower
concentrations of Al. Another study finds that intake of aluminum in rodents increases the
presence of amyloid plaques, which is considered a major risk factor for Alzheimers disease.
The researcher conducts clinical trials in which patients were observed over a 15-year period,
where some patients drink water a high aluminum concentration while others drink bottled water.
The data shows that 30% of the patients developed dementia after a 15 year follow-up; 70% of
patients developed Alzheimers disease while drinking aluminum exposed tap water.

Problem Statement and Rationale

Alzheimers disease is one of the most prominent neurodegenerative memory disorders in the
world affecting more than five million people. The rapid progression in people who acquire
Alzheimers disease is important since it is estimated that by 2033, there will be at least ten
million cases of AD. This is a significant issue since the human population would no longer be
able to take proper care of themselves due to the memory disorder, leading to a decline in
language and motor skills. Since there is not a variety of research that proves nor denies the
effect of environmental factors on the progression of AD; this research would be beneficial to
neurologists, neuroscientists, and the memory and care facilities for dementia. Identifying a new
cause of AD could lead to specified research and trials to find the cure of the specified causes.
Research Methodology
Research Question and Hypothesis
o What is the correlation of environmental and lifestyle factors on the development
of Alzheimers disease?
o The exposure of aluminum (Al) in the environment accelerates the progression of
Alzheimers disease (AD) because aluminum acts as a neurotoxin towards
humans, cognitive decline is present in areas with metallic residue in waterways,
and the accumulation of aluminum has similar neuropathological biomarkers as
found in patients who developed Alzheimers disease through genetic

Basis of Hypothesis
I focused my hypothesis specifically on environmental and lifestyle factors that have an
impact on the development of AD since there has not been an abundance of research
focusing on these factors; more research focuses on the genetic causes of Alzheimers
disease. While reading various academic journals, I have found that multiple neurologists
have conducting clinical trials concerning aluminums effect on the brain. Although the
experiments are only in their early stages, the authors suggest that aluminum may be an
environmental factor that could accelerate the development of AD. Additionally, the
journals contain data from their experiments on people who have acquired AD in an area
with a high concentration of Al, which I could use to prove my hypothesis. I am
interested in determining the effect of aluminum (Al) on the development of Alzheimers
disease and the reasoning why Al has a negative neurological effect.

Research Design
I will be conducting causal-comparative research by using data from document/data
analysis collection methods. My research will consist of qualitative and quantitative data
from academic journals, research articles, and case studies. Data analysis will allow me to
determine relationships among multiple case studies on the effect of Al exposure to the
development of Alzheimers disease.

Operational Definitions
o Neurodegenerative Disease: A term for the progressive loss of structure or
function of neurons, including death of neurons. Such diseases are incurable,
resulting in progressive degeneration and/or death of neuron cells.
o Alzheimer s disease: A chronic neurodegenerative disease that gradually grows
worse over time. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with
language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self care,
and behavioral issues. As a person's condition declines, they often withdraw from
family and society and bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death.
o Dementia: A broad category of brain diseases that cause a long term and oftengradual decrease in the ability to think and remember that is great enough to affect
a person's daily functioning.
o Neurologist/Neuroscientist: A scientist focusing on the branch of medicine or
biology that deals with the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves
and the nervous system.
o Neurofibrillary Tangles: Aggregates of hyper-phosphorylated tau protein that are
most commonly known as a primary marker of Alzheimer's disease.
o Amyloid Plaques: An abundance of insoluble fibrous protein aggregates sharing
specific structural traits.
o APOE 4: A class of apolipoprotein found in the chylomicron and Intermediatedensity lipoprotein (IDLs) that is essential for the normal catabolism of
triglyceride-rich lipoprotein constituents.

Product Overview
The products of the study would include a presentation to Alzheimers researchers at Johns
Hopkins as well as a detailed model of the human brain in order to promote Alzheimers
awareness and research funds for clinical trials in order to find a cure. The presentation to the
neurologists would include the results of my document and data analysis and the methods I took
in order to reach my conclusion. The presentation to the neurologists would help them create
their own causal-comparative study in order to determine aluminums effect of cognitive decline
and announce their results, hopefully reducing the amount of patients diagnosed with early-onset
Alzheimers from environmental causes. The audience may evaluate my product by filling out a
performance sheet including accuracy, effectiveness of the presentation, and feedback. Another
product of the research study would include an interactive piece; a comprehensive model of the
human brain, which would raise Alzheimers disease awareness as well as presenting the effects
of aluminum toxicity in a 3-dimensional manner for the public.
Logistical Considerations
The major logistical concerns for the final products include time, transportation, special
permissions, maintenance, materials, and costs. I plan to create a presentation to demonstrate my
findings to neurologists and neuroscientists based at Johns Hopkins Hospital in order to make a
difference of Alzheimers disease research. However, this would require transportation and
special permissions to visit and present at Johns Hopkins.
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