Assessing the Role of Physical Activity in the Prevention and Management of Alzheimer’s Disease (Thesis Proposal Sample)

Assessing the Role of Physical Activity in the Prevention and Management of Alzheimer’s Disease
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Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc124681702 \h 3Literature Review PAGEREF _Toc124681703 \h 3Chapter Overview PAGEREF _Toc124681704 \h 3Theory and Model Review PAGEREF _Toc124681705 \h 4The Worldwide Population Aging, the Occurrences and the Impacts of Alzheimer’s Disease PAGEREF _Toc124681706 \h 5The Global Population Aging PAGEREF _Toc124681707 \h 5Alzheimer’s Disease Prevalence PAGEREF _Toc124681708 \h 5Alzheimer’s Disease Incidence PAGEREF _Toc124681709 \h 6The Effects of Physical Exercise on Physiologic Brain Aging PAGEREF _Toc124681710 \h 7Research question, Aim, and Objectives PAGEREF _Toc124681711 \h 9Aim PAGEREF _Toc124681712 \h 9Research Objectives PAGEREF _Toc124681713 \h 9Research Questions PAGEREF _Toc124681714 \h 9Research Methodology PAGEREF _Toc124681715 \h 9Chapter Overview PAGEREF _Toc124681716 \h 9Study Design PAGEREF _Toc124681717 \h 9Data Collection Methods PAGEREF _Toc124681718 \h 11Data Analysis Methods PAGEREF _Toc124681719 \h 11Ethical Considerations PAGEREF _Toc124681720 \h 12Research Gantt Chart PAGEREF _Toc124681721 \h 12Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc124681722 \h 12References PAGEREF _Toc124681723 \h 14
Introduction
Alzheimer's disease(AD) forms the major type of dementia as well as one of the neurogenerative pathologies affecting elderly people. It constitutes over 90% of dementia cases in most populations (De la Rosa et al., 2020). AD is highly known for its progressive cognitive, functional, and behavioral loss and its irreversibility and commonly associated with other brain disorders like agnosia, amnesia, aphasia, and apraxia (Zvěřová, 2019). Around 55 million people in the world have dementia, where more than 60% live in middle and low-income nations, with the number expected to move to about a 78million by 2030 and about 139 million by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2021). Also, dos Santos et al. (20118) point out that about 24 million people across the globe have Alzheimer's disease, with the number projected to be four times higher by 2050. These alarming statistics showcase the increased danger the disease poses to the world population and escalated by the fact that the risk factors increase with age, where estimations indicate that by 2050, the population aged over 65 years is likely to have grown to over 1.5 billion people (De la Rosa et al., 2020).
The social and human cost of the disease for caregivers and patients continues to increase, making it a key focus in promoting health and overall well-being, especially in aging societies (Alzheimer's Association, 2019. There are several studies conducted to examine the role of physical exercise in the prevention of dementia. However, most of the studies are either general or have less focus on different aspects of physical exercise as a therapeutic approach in the treatment and prevention of dementia for aging societies, leaving a literature gap that will be the main focus area for this research. The study will be of significance to caregivers and healthcare sectors in devising the right approaches to guide the prevention and treatment of AD. The research will also form a good basis for further studies meant to further research on the application of physical exercise in the treatment and management of AD and other types of dementia. 
Literature Review
Chapter Overview
The literature entails research on physical activity's function in the management and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The data was analyzed after being gathered from a variety of textbooks, journals, publications, and other pertinent internet sites for health studies, including Medline, Pubmed, and Cinhal. The information was gathered from secondary sources. To guarantee that they provide the most accurate information, the publications gathered span those released in 2018 through 2023. The Critical Appraisal Program is also used to assess the content in order to identify the primary arguments, concepts, and patterns.
Theory and Model Review
Various theories demonstrate various approaches to the management and treatment of dementia. Kitwood is acknowledged for introducing the biopsychosocial model for the care of dementia (Downs & Lord, 2017). The model is widely accepted, and it posits that the functioning of the individual living with dementia is related to the biological illness aspects and their psychosocial environment. Kitwood theory on person-centered care argues that the quality of life, personhood, and well-being are the features of the quality of an individual's relationships and interactions (Terkelsen et al., 2020). He demonstrated that malignant social psychology refers to various interactions that diminish the humanistic, which is the individualized care approach that gives unconditional positive regard, maintains a person's identity continuity, facilitates the sense of worth, and provides opportunities for the meaningful occupation and engagement (Harper et al., 2020). It is operationalized in the Absolute Value of Human Lives (VIPS), the social environment which supports psychological needs, viewing the world from the service user's perspective (O’Rourke et al., 2022; Chung et al., 2017).
The relationship-focused care also extends to the personhood theory to include inter-relatedness in caring for the relationships: reciprocity and mutuality (Hennelly et al., 2021). Konto's phenomenological approach the urgency in individuals living with dementia from the mind and body. It posits that individual with dementia needs ongoing, although changed, individuals who retain their sense of self, and this forms trusting relationships (Staehler et al., 2022).
The right-based model advocates for the engagement and empowerment of people with cases of dementia in dementia