Psychology
AshlynHope
w4_a1.docxRunning head: RESEARCH TOPIC 1
RESEARCH TOPIC 4
Research Topic (Stem Cells and Alzheimer’s)
Ashlyn C. Lewis
PSYC 4600
Unit 4 Assignment 1
Capella University
August 10, 2014
An Introduction Describing the Background of the Problem
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a disease that is incurable but yet the most expensive health care cost. Alzheimer’s is when dementia occurs from the lost of neurons. Stem cells can be taken from blastocyst stage of an embryo or adult organs. The embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos that are used for conception but are poor quality and/ or have a genetic disorder. Cellular or stem cell regeneration seems to be a promising future cure for this disease. Stem cells could be used to regenerate the neurons in the diseased part of the brain. The ethical issue that occurs is that stem cells are derived from human embryos. Another ethical issue is the gestational age of the embryo. The use of adult stem cells could elevate ethical issues but some human bodies do not have the immune system to host the transplanted stem cells. If stem cells could be derived from an embryo without ethics being a problem the cost is extensive. And there is often a conflict with the use of federal funds for stem cell research. According to Waymack (2001), ”Medical researchers now argue that these cells hold the promise for highly effective treatments for many diseases that afflict”(p.21). But morally the thought of deriving stem cells from a live human embryo sparks controversy with human rights activists. They believe if we use the embryo for it would be deliberating killing another human. But many researchers believe if the cells are not being used for in vitro fertilization and being destroyed, why not using them.
The statement of the problem
One of the problems that may occur when using embryonic stem cells is that the embryonic stem cells could be misused. There are also concerns that the cells could be used for cloning instead of stem cell research. Federal funding is not allocated for researching the use of embryonic stem cells. Morally the use of embryonic stem cells is conflicting. Altering life scientifically is what many considering using embryonic stem cells morally wrong.
The use of adult stem cells, amniotic cells, and induced pluripotent is not so controversial. These cells do not require various altering on order to use them. But adult cells are not so easily used, embryonic stem cells can be used for nervous system therapies. Adult stem cells cannot isolate neural progenitors therefore they cannot be used for nervous system therapies. Adult stem cells do not rapidly divide into other cells. Many times they have toxins and cannot be used.
The purpose and significance of the study.
The purpose of using stem cells is to help with the treatment of Alzheimer’s. The stem cells can be used to regenerate healthy neurons to help with the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Without the approval of using stem cells the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) could effect the human race. The cost of treating patients with AD with stem cells could decrease the long-term medical expense of caring for an AD patient. The embryos that would be used to for stem cell research is already slotted to be destroyed so why not use these embryos to help develop a cure for AD. Or the embryo stem cells are not healthy enough to be used for transplantation. Barratt, C., St. John, J., & Afnan (2004) states, “whatever the efficiencies of the system, stable embryonic stem-cell lines can be generated from embryos that have been deemed to have little or no potential to form a livebirth” (p. 115). Not all stem cells that would be used for Alzheimer’s would be used for human birth. Most people are concerned with the use of the embryos and stress the concern that the embryos will only be generated to be used for research.
Research Design
To protect the moral values of many who believe using stem cells for research or treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, only the embryos that are deemed unhealthy for transplant should be used. The healthy embryos that are not being used by the donors should not be used for Alzheimer’s treatment. If the stem cells that are not healthy but can be used to rejuvenate neurons and cells, they should be used to help treat Alzheimer’s patients.
The research questions and hypotheses (in quantitative designs).
What population would be targeted to use the stem cells as treatment for Alzheimer’s? At what stage would the stem cells be used? If a patient has an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s stem cell treatment should not be used. The cells would have to repair a larger part of the damaged area in the brain. Why animal stem cells cannot be used to treat Alzheimer’s? What other methods can be used to treat Alzheimer’s other than the use of embryo stem cells? What is the importance of using embryonic stem cells in treating Alzheimer patients? How could others benefit from using embryonic stem cells?
The assumptions and limitations of the study.
The assumption is if embryonic stem cells are used to treat Alzheimer’s. Would embryos be created just to be used for stem cells and repairing damaged cells, which could treat a vast majority of the population? To eliminate the controversy only the embryonic stem cells that are not healthy enough for transplant and no longer wanted by the donors should be used to treat Alzheimer’s patients. At what developmental stage should the embryonic stem cells be used when treating AD. The stem cells should be retrieved at the blastocyst-stage of the embryo development. At this stage the cells are more likely to regenerate the damaged neurons effectively.
The operational definitions used in the study.
References
Waymack, M. (2001). Stem cells stir controversy. National Catholic Reported, 37(35), 21.
Barratt, C., St. John, J., & Afnan, M. (2004). Clinical challenges in providing embryos for stem-cell initiatives. The Lancet, 346(9429), 115-8.
