Just Keep Swimming: An Approach To Alzheimer's Via Common-Substance Ingestion

School Name

Dutch Fork High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Approximately five million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's every year. Alzheimer's affects the brain, specifically by depleting the memory, and is caused when the neurons can no longer communicate with each other. Ginkgo biloba is given to improve patients' memories, yet other substances have been suggested to be a memory enhancer greater than ginkgo biloba. This research will give Carassius auratus auratus, or comet goldfish, various natural medications and place them in an aquarium maze, followed by a measuring of the amount of time for them to complete the maze. It is predicted that the medicated fish's swim time through the maze will decrease, showing a benefited memory of the maze. The substances chosen to test include ginkgo biloba, Asian Ginseng, Omega 3, andVitamin B12 because each of these substances are suggested to improve memory. Each substance should improve the fish's memory functioning; and ginkgo biloba is currently given to patients with Alzheimer's. The purpose of using ginkgo biloba will be to assure that the test and maze theory of showing an increase in memory is valid as well as to provide a basis for comparison as to whether the substances tested are in fact better at improving memory than the ginkgo biloba that is currently being given. The plan is to build an aquarium maze containing plastic sheets with circular holes in them for the fish to swim through. The medicinal substances will be infused in the water, and absorbed through the fish's scales. Using a control of fish without medication as a comparison, the time it takes the fish to complete the maze will be repeatedly tested. If the substances are improving the memory, then there should be a decrease in the time it takes the fish to swim the maze.

Start Date

4-11-2015 9:00 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 9:15 AM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 9:00 AM Apr 11th, 9:15 AM

Just Keep Swimming: An Approach To Alzheimer's Via Common-Substance Ingestion

Approximately five million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's every year. Alzheimer's affects the brain, specifically by depleting the memory, and is caused when the neurons can no longer communicate with each other. Ginkgo biloba is given to improve patients' memories, yet other substances have been suggested to be a memory enhancer greater than ginkgo biloba. This research will give Carassius auratus auratus, or comet goldfish, various natural medications and place them in an aquarium maze, followed by a measuring of the amount of time for them to complete the maze. It is predicted that the medicated fish's swim time through the maze will decrease, showing a benefited memory of the maze. The substances chosen to test include ginkgo biloba, Asian Ginseng, Omega 3, andVitamin B12 because each of these substances are suggested to improve memory. Each substance should improve the fish's memory functioning; and ginkgo biloba is currently given to patients with Alzheimer's. The purpose of using ginkgo biloba will be to assure that the test and maze theory of showing an increase in memory is valid as well as to provide a basis for comparison as to whether the substances tested are in fact better at improving memory than the ginkgo biloba that is currently being given. The plan is to build an aquarium maze containing plastic sheets with circular holes in them for the fish to swim through. The medicinal substances will be infused in the water, and absorbed through the fish's scales. Using a control of fish without medication as a comparison, the time it takes the fish to complete the maze will be repeatedly tested. If the substances are improving the memory, then there should be a decrease in the time it takes the fish to swim the maze.