Does Memory Simulation Games and Awareness Delay the Onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia are the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States, with a prevalence rate of 5.8 million people. Dementia is cognitive disorders that affect the functioning of a person with no cure, with the elderly suffering mostly. Therefore, there is a need for mechanisms and strategies for delaying the onset of symptoms in high-risk individuals who have Alzheimer’s in their families. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of memory stimulating games and awareness courses in delaying the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in people with a family history of the condition. The study will recruit 100 people with a family history of dementia and randomly assign them to two groups. The experimental group that will receive memory stimulating games and awareness course and the control group that will receive no treatment.
Does Memory Simulation Games and Awareness Delay the Onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia 

Problem Statement/Information Goal

Alzheimer’s is the 6^th leading cause of death and affects more than 5.8 million people in the United States, and as the number of people aged 65 and above increases, so will the number of people affected by the condition  (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020). Alzheimer’s Association further notes that Alzheimer’s and dementia will cost the United States approximately $305 billion a cost that would rise to $1.1 billion by 2050. Also, the Alzheimer’s Association outlined that more than 16 million people offer unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, which translates to nearly 18.6 billion hours of care valued at $244 billion. Therefore, there is a need to find ways to reduce or delay the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in society. In this regard, the present study aims to find out whether memory simulation games, coupled with an awareness course on Alzheimer’s and dementia, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia in people at risk of developing the conditions.

Significance, Purpose, and Relationship to Other Issues

Alzheimer’s and dementia cause problems with thinking, memory, and behavior, and it is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s is a progressive condition with no cure, and the progress of the disease is not altered by treatment. However, there is a belief that certain activities can delay the onset of symptoms or prevent them from progressing at a fast rate. Researchers believe that brain training or brain simulation games can delay the onset of symptoms and avoid the rapid progress of the condition. Therefore, finding evidence to support these suggestions can help reduce the prevalence and, eventually, the cost associated with the disease.

Finding a means to reduce or delay the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia is beneficial to psychology in various ways. Alzheimer’s and dementia are associated with the loss of cognitive function demonstrated by impaired judgment, communication troubles, confused thinking, and memory problems, which are severe psychological concerns. Therefore, finding means to reduce or prevent these symptoms is beneficial to a psychologist because it offers them a way to help their patients, family members, and society. Finding the impact of brain simulation games and self-awareness on the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia can improve the practice by reducing the cost associated with the treatment and management of the conditions. In addition, this information can inform further research in the future in finding and improving brain simulation games, and the specific spots of the brain they stimulate.

Related Research from Literature Review

Participation in cognitively stimulating activities has been identified as a potential mechanism for altering the pathophysiological of Alzheimer’s Disease in older people. Previous studies have identified critical markers in the brain changed by constant brain-stimulating activities leading to slow progress of Alzheimer (Landau, Marks, Mormino, Rabinovici, & O’Neil, 2012). This study is significant to the present study as it outlines critical markers of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s and the effect of cognitively stimulating activities on these areas. Similarly, Mendiola-Precoma, Berumen, Padilla, and Garcia-Alcocer (2016) pointed out that lifestyle strategies such as mental challenges and socialization are among the preventive approach for Alzheimer’s Disease. On the other hand, Isaacson et al. (2018) pointed out that social media is a valuable tool for disseminating patient education interventions regarding Alzheimer’s. This can help in creating awareness and raise preventive strategies among families and people at risk.

Definition of Terms and Abbreviations

No words used

Hypothesis

Adults who part take in both the memory simulation games and awareness course will be able to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia successfully.

Methods

The study will recruit 100 adults aged between 25 and 35 who have a family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia. These people will be recruited through referrals and medical databases within the hospital.

Independent Variable: memory stimulating games and awareness course

Dependent Variable: the year of onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms

Experimental Group: Fifty participants will be randomly assigned to the group that will receive an awareness course and memory stimulation games.

Control Group: fifty people will be assigned to the group without any treatment.

Discussion

We expect to find that awareness courses and memory stimulating games have a sportive impact on the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms. However, future studies should investigate specific memory locations or factors altered by brain stimulation games and structure games that target the particular memory location associated with Alzheimer’s.

Summary Restatement of your Problem

Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6^th leading cause of death in the United with no cure and a significant health care burden. However, certain lifestyle activities can delay the onset of symptoms, which can help reduce the cost associated with the management of the condition.

References

Alzheimer’s Association. (2020, March 20). Alzheimer’s and Dementia Facts and Figures. Retrieved from Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures

Isaacson, R. S., Seifan, A., Haddox, C. L., Mureb, M., Rahman, A., Scheyer, O., . . . Caesar, E. (2018). Using social media to disseminate education about Alzheimer’s prevention & treatment: a pilot study on Alzheimer’s universe. NCBI, 106-113.

Landau, S. M., Marks, S. M., Mormino, E. C., Rabinovici, G. D., & O’Neil, J. P. (2012). Association of lifetime cognitive engagement and low beta-amyloid deposition. Archives of Neurology, 623-629.

Mendiola-Precoma, J., Berumen, L. C., Padilla, K., & Garcia-Alcocer, G. (2016). Therapies for Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Hindawi, 1-17.