St. Thomas Aquinas students' research published in international neuroscience journal

Staff report
·2 min read

St. Thomas Aquinas High School students Nicholas Tonzola III and Marissa Nieves recently had their groundbreaking research on dementia published in the International Youth Neuroscience Journal.

Tonzola and Nieves, both seniors, embarked on an ambitious research project on dementia last fall. Their motivation to explore this topic stemmed from personal experiences and a shared belief that public knowledge about dementia was lacking, leading to stigmatization.

Reflecting on their achievement, Tonzola and Nieves said, "Dementia has uniquely impacted both of our lives. Our research project, while long and arduous, served to better our understanding of the disease, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see our work come to fruition."

The project evolved into an interdisciplinary venture, involving the fields of neuroscience, psychology and social sciences. They conducted a comprehensive survey that garnered responses from 373 individuals, including students, faculty and staff at their high school in Edison.

Principal Harry Ziegler and Honors Program Advisor Paul Nolan with Nicholas Tonzola III and Marissa Nieves, holding copies of their research article and the journal in which it was published.
Principal Harry Ziegler and Honors Program Advisor Paul Nolan with Nicholas Tonzola III and Marissa Nieves, holding copies of their research article and the journal in which it was published.

The research journey involved an extensive period of data analysis, culminating in the discovery that knowing someone with dementia significantly improved survey accuracy. Moreover, age was found to be a significant factor in certain questions.

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Despite facing several challenges, including limited experience in research paper writing and statistical analysis, Tonzola and Nieves persevered and successfully overcame these obstacles. Their dedication to learning and growth was a testament to their commitment to the project.

To secure publication, the students diligently researched journals within their subject area that accepted high school students' contributions. After applying to several journals and making necessary formatting adjustments, they received acceptance from The Journal of the International Youth Neuroscience Association, where their work was published in this month’s edition.

"This informative work is the culmination of scholarship utilizing decision-making and problem-solving skills with an indomitable work ethic," said Honors Program Faculty Advisor Paul Nolan. "Their enthusiasm and unflinching interest in the subject was most enjoyable to watch."

The project's journey is far from over, as Tonzola and Nieves are in the process of creating a video component featuring interviews with experts in the field of dementia. The dedication and hard work invested in this project, spanning well over 100 hours across several months, underscore the students' passion for raising awareness about dementia.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: St. Thomas Aquinas NJ students published in international journal