How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
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Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#2I have the impression when we read stories like this that it's not that the leading researchers in the field are hostile to other ideas, as such, but that they are not very well versed in economics and thus think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful, and likewise abandoning or discounting the predominant theory would be a terrible mistake because of all the money that has already gone into it (a sunk cost fallacy). Over and over we see that expertise in one field - even a very rigorous scientific one - doesn't immunize one from fallacious thinking in other contexts.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#3This is another example of group-think in scientific research. The same thing happened for decades where low fat diets were supposed to help for heart disease but that has only recently been reversed after decades of indoctrination. This happens all throughout scientific research, where science is supposed to be immune to this, but it's obviously not. So many things we take as gospel, only to be reversed decades later, and it has to do with how things get funded which is unfortunately leading society the wrong way.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#4I have the impression when we read stories like this that it's not that the leading researchers in the field are hostile to other ideas, as such, but that they are not very well versed in economics and thus think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful, and likewise abandoning or discounting the predominant theory would be a terrible m…
think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful
I heard someone recently tell me how using science to form views on topics (social/psychology/etc) is dangerous, because science is really about funding. AND large donors/entities who can fund science often pick science research projects that sound cool and sexy. They may not be pushing any agenda but do lean toward funding trendy ideas.
So really, science is often biased because of who hold the checkbooks. That really made me think.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#5Unfortunately true for most scientific communities and the reason why the current academic system is badly broken and talented young minds decide to quit academia before even submitting a dissertation.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#6Great
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#7I have the impression when we read stories like this that it's not that the leading researchers in the field are hostile to other ideas, as such, but that they are not very well versed in economics and thus think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful, and likewise abandoning or discounting the predominant theory would be a terrible m…
think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful I heard someone recently tell me how using science to form views on topics (social/psychology/etc) is dangerous, because science is really about funding. AND large donors/entities who can fund science often pick science research projects that sound cool and sexy. They may not be pushing any…
Science is funded:
1. by desire for profit
2. by desire for political gain
3. by charitable impulses by people with money to spare
Each has its problems and advantages. Best if we allow all three.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#8Great
Hello
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#9I have the impression when we read stories like this that it's not that the leading researchers in the field are hostile to other ideas, as such, but that they are not very well versed in economics and thus think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful, and likewise abandoning or discounting the predominant theory would be a terrible m…
think that scarce research funding should flow their way because giving any to other possibly-wrong approaches would be wasteful I heard someone recently tell me how using science to form views on topics (social/psychology/etc) is dangerous, because science is really about funding. AND large donors/entities who can fund science often pick science research projects that sound cool and sexy. They may not be pushing any…
One can be wary of big money projects while trusting the larger trends, critical reasoning and method itself.
Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure
#10This is another example of group-think in scientific research. The same thing happened for decades where low fat diets were supposed to help for heart disease but that has only recently been reversed after decades of indoctrination. This happens all throughout scientific research, where science is supposed to be immune to this, but it's obviously not. So many things we take as gospel, only to be reversed decades late…
> “ The same thing happened for decades where low fat diets were supposed to help for heart disease but that has only recently been reversed”
Oh did not know that. Do you have reference material?