About this episode
<p>One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle.</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>SOURCES:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.science.org/content/author/charles-piller" rel="noopener noreferrer">Charles Piller</a>, investigative journalist for <i>Science, </i>author of <i>Doctored</i>.</li> <li><a href="https://www.vumc.org/vmac/person/matthew-s-schrag-md-phd" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matthew Schrag</a>, associate professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.</li> </ul></li> </ul> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>RESOURCES:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/4tgz7t3" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i>Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's</i></a><i>, </i>by Charles Piller (2025).</li> <li>"<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/06/26/g-s1-6177/brain-waste-removal-system-amyloid-alzheimer-toxins" rel="noopener noreferrer">The brain makes a lot of waste. Now scientists think they know where it goes</a>," by Jon Hamilton <i>(NPR,</i> 2024).</li> <li>"<a href="https://www.nature.com/immersive/alzheimers-disease-history/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">The history of Alzheimer’s disease</a>," by Lisa Kiani and Richard Hodson <i>(Nature,</i> 2024).</li> </ul></li> </ul> <p> </p> <ul> <li><strong>EXTRAS:</strong> <ul> <li>"<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast/can-marty-makary-fix-the-f-d-a/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Can Marty Makary Fix the F.D.A.?</a>" by <i>Freakonomics Radio </i>(2026).</li> <li>"<a href="https://freakonomics.com/podcast/are-you-ready-for-the-elder-swell/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are You Ready for the Elder Swell?</a>" by <i>Freakonomics Radio </i>(2025).</li> </ul></li> </ul><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>