Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.

Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.

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Description
Current research attempts to address the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by
finding causes and treatments to revert misfolded proteins and ceasing progression due to
Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of misfolded Tau
protein to AD through neurofibrillary tangles solely, and in conjunction with

Current research attempts to address the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by
finding causes and treatments to revert misfolded proteins and ceasing progression due to
Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of misfolded Tau
protein to AD through neurofibrillary tangles solely, and in conjunction with known causative
agents such as 𝛽-amyloid protein. Finally, it interprets the association of Tau with DM and its
effects on the progression of AD.
ContributorsTavani, Jennifer Renee (Author) / Houtchens, Jason (Thesis director) / Lisenbee, Cayle (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
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Description
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in loss of cognitive function and is not considered part of the typical aging process. Recently, research is being conducted to study environmental effects on AD because the exact molecular mechanisms behind AD are not known. The associations between various toxins and

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in loss of cognitive function and is not considered part of the typical aging process. Recently, research is being conducted to study environmental effects on AD because the exact molecular mechanisms behind AD are not known. The associations between various toxins and AD have been mixed and unclear. In order to better understand the role of the environment and toxic substances on AD, we conducted a literature review and geospatial analysis of environmental, specifically wastewater, contaminants that have biological plausibility for increasing risk of development or exacerbation of AD. This literature review assisted us in selecting 10 wastewater toxic substances that displayed a mixed or one-sided relationship with the symptoms or prevalence of Alzheimer’s for our data analysis. We utilized data of toxic substances in wastewater treatment plants and compared them to the crude rate of AD in the different Census regions of the United States to test for possible linear relationships. Using data from the Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey (TNSSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we developed an application using R Shiny to allow users to interactively visualize both datasets as choropleths of the United States and understand the importance of this area of research. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated resulting in arsenic and cadmium displaying positive linear correlations with AD. Other analytes from this statistical analysis demonstrated mixed correlations with AD. This application and data analysis serve as a model in the methodology for further geospatial analysis on AD. Further data analysis and visualization at a lower level in terms of scope is necessary for more accurate and reliable evidence of a causal relationship between the wastewater substance analytes and AD.
GitHub Repository: https://github.com/komal-agrawal/AD_GIS.git
ContributorsAgrawal, Komal (Author) / Scotch, Matthew (Thesis director) / Halden, Rolf (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTLD) are types of dementia that have distinct differences. To help identify some of the neural differences, researchers use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques to assist with diagnosing patients and track progression over time. The major objective of this experiment was to use

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTLD) are types of dementia that have distinct differences. To help identify some of the neural differences, researchers use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques to assist with diagnosing patients and track progression over time. The major objective of this experiment was to use the advanced diffusion tensor imaging techniques of Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Free water (FW) to help differentiate between AD and FTLD neurodegeneration. The scope of this experiment was to examine literature research on AD and FTLD by gathering the mean values of (FA) and (FW) to identify diffusivity susceptibility in the specific brain regions of the Uncinate Fasciculus (UF) and the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG). The methods used were the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the Frontotemporal Lobe Degenerative Neuroimaging Initiative (FTLD): These data repositories provide researchers with study data to define the progression of AD and FTLD. Next, an imaging analysis was used to calculate the average FA and FW through each slice of the brain regions UF and STG in standard space. Then FreeSurfer segmented Superior Temporal Gyrus and the JHU ICBM Atlas of the Uncinate Fasciculus were used as a set of tools for analysis and visualization of structural and functional brain imaging data for processing the cross-sectional and longitudinal data. We calculated 95% Confidence intervals for mean FW and FA at each slice and direction across 21 participants within each dementia group to determine regions of overlap and nonoverlap. Results indicated that for the FA and FW graphs in the x and z directions among UF and STG regions, there were more non-overlap regions between the AD and FTLD in the FW graphs across x and z-directions in particular the UF. Our results indicate that there may be concomitant decline in white and gray matter regions in dementia, and FW may be more sensitive detecting AD related neurodegeneration in the UF and STG regions.

ContributorsMalone, Joshua (Author) / Ofori, Edward (Thesis director) / Schaefer, Sydney (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
Objective: To examine the change in caregiver burden, stress, and heart rate variability (HRV) scores when family caregivers (FCG) of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) used heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB). Additional factors that could potentially moderate the effects of HRVB, such as education and income level, were separately examined.

Objective: To examine the change in caregiver burden, stress, and heart rate variability (HRV) scores when family caregivers (FCG) of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) used heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB). Additional factors that could potentially moderate the effects of HRVB, such as education and income level, were separately examined. Methods: An 8-week HRVB intervention was compared to a music listening control (MLC) condition for 30 family caregivers (FCGs) of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (and related dementias: ADRD). Analysis per education and income level were separately conducted. Results: The HRVB intervention with higher education and lower-income individuals showed more favorable HRV outcomes (noted to be slightly decreased in higher-income individuals). Perceived stress was reduced for both intervention groups, and caregiver burden levels decreased for all income groups, particularly in those with lower incomes. Discussion: Future researchers should increase the sample size, explore stratification based on income and education levels, and consider gender-based divisions, as these factors could yield valuable insights.
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsMathews, Megan (Author) / Vizcaino, Maricarmen (Thesis director) / Larkey, Linda (Committee member) / James, Darith (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-12