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cover of episode 581: Fraud, failure, & new frontiers in Alzheimer's research | Journalist Charles Piller

581: Fraud, failure, & new frontiers in Alzheimer's research | Journalist Charles Piller

2025/2/23
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Charles Piller: 阿尔茨海默病研究的进展缓慢是由于多种因素共同作用的结果，其中最主要的是长期以来对淀粉样蛋白假说的过度依赖，以及在该领域大量发表的论文中存在的图像造假现象。淀粉样蛋白假说认为，淀粉样蛋白的积累会导致一系列生化反应，最终引发阿尔茨海默病。然而，这一假说在很长一段时间内主导了该领域的研究、资金和药物研发，但却未能为患者带来实质性的成果。此外，大量的研究论文中存在图像造假问题，这些被篡改的图像被用来支持实验的结论，从而进一步误导了研究方向。这两种因素共同导致了阿尔茨海默病研究领域的巨大失望。 2006年发表的一篇重要论文，其研究结果曾一度被认为支持淀粉样蛋白假说，但后来被发现存在图像造假行为。该论文的影响力巨大，导致了大量资金被投入到针对特定类型淀粉样蛋白的研究中，但最终仍未能取得突破。 学术界存在一些不正当的激励机制，例如发表论文数量的压力以及对传统观点的盲目追随，这些都可能导致研究人员做出不诚实的行为。此外，资助机构、监管机构、大学和期刊等机构在检查论文中的不当行为方面长期以来都过于松懈，这导致了该领域的不良发展。 尽管阿尔茨海默病研究领域存在诸多问题，但仍有一些新的研究方向值得关注，例如感染假说、GLP-1抑制剂和tau蛋白研究。这些研究方向有望为阿尔茨海默病的治疗带来新的突破。 虽然目前尚无治愈阿尔茨海默病的方法，但控制血压、胆固醇和保持健康的生活方式等因素可以降低患病风险或延缓发病时间。

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Charles Piller discusses the two major factors hindering Alzheimer's research: the dominance of the amyloid hypothesis and the prevalence of image doctoring in seminal papers. These issues have led to disappointing results and a need for a shift in research approach.
  • Amyloid hypothesis dominance
  • Image doctoring in research papers
  • Disappointing results for patients

Shownotes Transcript

“There is a confluence of things that has caused Alzheimer's research to be disappointingly slow,” explains Charles Piller. 

Piller, investigative journalist and author, reveals the history of scientific misconduct in the field of Alzheimer's research, as well as promising areas of research, plus: 

  • Lies in Alzheimer's research (~2:35)

  • The amyloid hypothesis (~3:25)

  • The history of doctoring images in science (~5:45)

  • Systemic issues (~10:30)

  • The landmark study (13:50)

  • What is driving these issues (~24:00)

  • The attack on science (~27:45)

  • Alzheimer's & what we know today (~37:40)

  • 3 areas of promising research (~38:55)

  • Risk & lifestyle factors (~41:20)

  • Piller’s hope for the field (~43:50)

Referenced in the episode: 

 

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