How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure • Hacker News Board

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#11

Post by redis_mlc » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:16 AM UTC

Galanwe wrote: post #10

ping_pong wrote: post #3

This 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?

A shill scientist was paid to promote high sugar, low fat diet a few decades ago by the sugar lobby.

Just like every other food paper quoted in the press.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#12

Post by birdyrooster » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:22 AM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #7

dba7dba wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does creating weapons of mass destruction count for profit, political gain, both or something else?

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#13

Post by tempsy » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:22 AM UTC

Hasn’t Alzheimer’s been referred to as diabetes type III? It’s inflammation of the brain, and eating a low inflammation diet (low carb, no sugar, fasting) is the best thing one can do to drastically reduce getting it.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#14

Post by catoc » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:25 AM UTC

Galanwe wrote: post #10

ping_pong wrote: post #3

This 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?

Read this: https://thebigfatsurprise.com/

The website initially may look like yet another diet approach, but this is actually a serious publication. And a good read.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#15

Post by saagarjha » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:26 AM UTC

birdyrooster wrote: post #12

WalterBright wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does creating weapons of mass destruction count for profit, political gain, both or something else?

Both, probably.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#16

Post by peter_retief » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:32 AM UTC

Galanwe wrote: post #10

ping_pong wrote: post #3

This 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?

There is a lot of evidence that low fat diets have contributed to the metabolic syndrome epidemic over the last few decades. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The latest studies show overwhelming evidence of the dangers of cutting back on fat but many academics refuse to change their views.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#17

Post by jonplackett » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:42 AM UTC

catoc wrote: post #14

Galanwe wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “ 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?

Read this: https://thebigfatsurprise.com/ The website initially may look like yet another diet approach, but this is actually a serious publication. And a good read.

I spoke to someone about this the other day and they claimed it was now the dairy and meat industry campaigning in response to get their fatty foods re-accepted. Is there any truth to this? Or anyone heard anything about this?

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#18

Post by prox » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:42 AM UTC

dba7dba wrote: post #4

anigbrowl wrote: post #2

I 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…

I also wonder if it is a victim of the just-one-more-try problem you see in big code projects: you get funded for a year or more and the lead researcher honestly thinks he is - almost there - if only for that one more try. This means all resources are diverted, and only really late in the game you have to admit you were wrong, which gets harder and harder to do.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#19

Post by creato » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:43 AM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #13

Hasn’t Alzheimer’s been referred to as diabetes type III? It’s inflammation of the brain, and eating a low inflammation diet (low carb, no sugar, fasting) is the best thing one can do to drastically reduce getting it.

> It’s inflammation of the brain, and eating a low inflammation diet (low carb, no sugar, fasting) is the best thing one can do to drastically reduce getting it.

Do you have a source?

If you state something like this with such authority/in a "matter of fact" way (and is something that seems likely to be controversial), you really should have a source.

Re: How an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure

#20

Post by igorkraw » Mon, Dec 30, 2019, 7:44 AM UTC

ping_pong wrote: post #3

This 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…

While I'm all for changing funding systems I want to point out that there fact we have these scandals is the system somewhat working. Similarly to how constant criticism of the government/large corporations isn't a sign of rot, but of a system where improvements are still possible -as long as someone is pointing out the problems you can fix them.

And science is not supposed to be immune to this, the culture of science is supposed to uncover things like this/errors like this as part of a process. The truth has a habit of shining through if you are encouraged to keep asking questions and follow up on them.

And again, not saying the system is perfect or that calling things out is enough. But too often comments like this get turned anti-science or "we can't improve anything, slow decay is inevitable" cynicism (or FUD if you want to be less charitable)