A prominent theory about the etiology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), called the inflammation hypothesis, points to inflammation from an infection as a causative agent of the biodegradation of the brain. To test this hypothesis, residents from long-term care facilities were cognitively assessed and their microbiomes were analyzed. With a small sample size, conclusive evidence was not obtained to support or reject this hypothesis, however the cognitive assessments used, including the NIH Toolbox, were analyzed. It was concluded that the NIH Toolbox is not an effective tool to track the progression of dementia at this time as it is not validated for participants over the age of 85, requires extensive time and equipment, and the results are difficult to interpret.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• O'Neill, Allison P.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042419-124457

Advisor

• Rulfs, Jill

Year

• 2019

Sponsor

• UMass Memorial Medical Center
• John Haran

Date created

• 2019-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright