For my inquiry project, I have decided to research the question, why are neurodegenerative and prions diseases so difficult to cure? To find my answer, I am breaking my research down into three simple steps.
First, I want to research about different neurodegenerative and prions diseases. Some options are Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and fatal familial insomnia. I would like to research the effect on the body each one has, how each one is different, the progression of the diseases, the life expectancy, and the similarities and differences between neurodegenerative diseases and prions diseases. Researching these different diseases will help me find an answer to my question because I need to understand how they work before finding my answer. If I didn’t learn about the diseases and rushed to find the cure, I would be miss out on a ton of crucial information. This is why an initial understanding of neurodegenerative and prions diseases is so important.
Second, I want to research what happens to the body during the progression of these diseases. Some questions I could look into are, what happens to the brain cells as these diseases progress? How do abnormal proteins damage brain cells? Why are damaged or dead brain cells difficult to replace? Why can these diseases be difficult to detect early? Lastly, why is it difficult for medications to reach the brain? Researching exactly what happens to the brain and body during the progression of these diseases is a mandatory step. This is because if I understand what happens to the body, it will lead me to why they are difficult/impossible to cure.
Third, I want to research possible cures/why they are extremely difficult to cure. Some questions I could look into are, what can slow the progression of the diseases? Is anything actively being done to cure these diseases? What is working and what is not? Researching the cures/why these diseases are so difficult to cure is also a crucial step in my project because it is the main focus of my presentation. All my other research is based on why neurodegenerative and prions diseases are so difficult to cure, so looking into cures is mandatory.
Understanding why neurodegenerative and prions diseases are difficult to cure helps me learn more about brain health and medical research. I was initially interested in this question because I want to understand why some brain diseases are so difficult to cure and how they affect people’s lives. This affects me because it helps me learn more about my health and the challenges doctors face in finding cures. In the community, these diseases can affect families, caregivers, and people who need medical support. This is why learning about them is so important. It helps me understand why research, awareness, and support are crucial.
SOURCES:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24976-neurodegenerative-diseases
What Is a Neurodegenerative Disease? Causes & Types
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/health/neurodegenerative
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/prion-diseases.html
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/prion-diseases