Article Analysis Paper Example

Article Analysis Paper NUR 4837

 

John Student

September 20, 2011

 

Paper based on an article published October 31, 2010

 

Park, A. (2010). New research on understanding Alzheimer’s. Time Magazine Health. Retrieved

    

     September 20, 2011 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2025572,00.html (Links to an external site.)

 

Summary

 

This article highlights the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, its financial effects, and the emotional havoc that it causes. The author discusses how the progressive rate may be due to the ever growing number of people in the most prevalent age range for the disease. These increasing numbers necessitate more research on the subject, and more money invested to study it. Major obstacles to research include; fear by the potential subjects, who generally would not want to know they are going to have an incurable and debilitating disease, previous unsuccessful treatments, and a lack of thorough knowledge concerning the disease process, and it’s causes. Some factors are known to contribute to it’s severity, while others are suspected to delay it’s progression, but currently no cure is known. There do, however, appear to be some genetic links to the disease, as well as progress made in early detection. At present, the possibility of early detection offers the most significant hope for potential treatment modalities.

 

Analysis

 

This article provides a broad overview of Alzheimer’s disease and the status of current research in this country. It provides a great deal of specific information as to the disease process, and current actions devoted to finding a cure. It does explain enough that a layperson could understand the effects of the disease, and it’s course, which is audience appropriate. The article initially appears to have the primary function of scaring people into becoming research subjects. It also relies on some questionable references to accomplish this.

The projections of eventual Medicare cost are made by experts, but the reader is not informed who the experts are. Along this line, one source doctor described how a majority of people will be affected by Alzheimer’s. His point was that the nation spends more on research to study cancer and heart disease than on Alzheimer’s, which he implies, is a more prevalent problem. This position is not accurate, as many evidence-based sources widely credit heart disease and cancer as the two primary causes of mortality in the country. His statement is further complicated by his position as faculty and researcher, who would most likely benefit from increased federal funding. Another facet of questionable source is the population which was polled to provide opinions on the status of research and progress with Alzheimer’s, as compared to progress with other diseases. The reader has no information concerning sample size, characteristics, selection, or anything that would provide a broader, more accurate sampling base. This would potentially return a very unbalanced result.

The stated current statistics of the disease are easily verifiable with reputable government web sites, and are accurate. This is strength in the article, and lends credence to the rest of the content. The article was very pointed concerning the dire situation of an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. The lack of successful past treatments, as well as failures, served to highlight this

point. As a bit of literary balance, a glimmer of hope was provided in the form of technology, genetic research, and the possibility of earlier detection. While the disease is far from being understood, these components are progressive steps toward treatment. Overall, the article did a thorough job of convincing the lay public of the seriousness of the situation, and provided rational reasoning for more research efforts in this area. In addition, it provided personal strategies to delay onset of the disease.

Relevance

This topic has great relevance to us as nurses, and as a nation. Regardless of the accuracy of this article’s projections, the large baby boomer generation is currently approaching the primary age bracket for symptom onset. Dementia adds whole realms to the care rendered to patients, as well as the support that must be provided to families. If the current data is correct, then the numbers of dementia patients will only increase in the coming years. These are individuals we care for, and care about. In light of this, the article’s primary effort for increased research cannot be invalidated.