In a recent episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver satirized how science is reported by the media. He addressed the pressure on scientists to continually publish, the lack of incentives to replicate studies, and the misinformation in public reports on scientific studies.
The episode especially rings true for Alzheimer’s disease. This year alone, consumers have been faced with reports that cold sores “cause” Alzheimer’s disease and maple syrup and snake venom “cure” it. These are examples of tentative hypotheses in need of scientific investigation that have been blown up into misleading claims.
We started Cognitive Vitality to provide scientifically accurate information on various strategies to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease and improve brain health. We analyze studies on particular topics to provide you with clear, unbiased, and accurate information on natural products and supplements, health management and drugs, and potential risks to avoid.
Nick McKeehan is a member of the ADDF's Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention program. He evaluates the scientific evidence for and against therapies to promote brain health and/or prevent Alzheimer's disease at our website CognitiveVitality.org and contributes regularly to the site's blog. Mr. McKeehan previously served as Chief Intern at Mid Atlantic Bio Angels (MABA) and was a research technician at Albert Einstein College of Medicine investigating repair capabilities of the brain. Mr. McKeehan received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Purdue University, where he was awarded a Howard Hughes Scholarship. He also writes about the biotechnology industry for 1st Pitch Life Science.
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