![](http://investorshub.advfn.com/images/default_ih_profile2_4848.jpg?cb=0)
Tuesday, February 07, 2023 8:04:38 PM
The Scandal Of Alzheimer’s
Steve Forbes Forbes Staff
“With all thy getting, get understanding."
Feb 7, 2023,06:00am EST
Why is there no cure for Alzheimer’s—or why aren’t there medications that can at least substantially slow or meaningfully ameliorate the disease? It afflicts more than 6 million Americans, with that number on its way to doubling within a generation.
Alzheimer’s is a hideous ailment for both the sufferers and their families and friends. Yet even though the disease was first diagnosed by psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in the early 1900s, progress in fighting it has been almost nonexistent. What’s scandalous is that for decades research has been almost entirely focused on the wrong hypothesis.
Dr. Alzheimer noted in the autopsy of the patient’s brain with the disease that came to bear his name that it was densely loaded with two proteins called plaques and tangles. Unfortunately, the dominant thesis in research on the disease has been that attacking plaques, and to a lesser extent tangles, would cure the ailment and enable the brain to regain its health.
Alzheimer himself warned about focusing too much on plaques and tangles as causes. In fact, some sufferers of Alzheimer’s have proved to have had little in the way of plaques, while others who had plaques didn’t have the disease.
Nonetheless, despite constant failures—some 20 drugs have been developed that ended up as flops—and the expenditure of tens of billions of dollars, the main thrust of research remains focused on fighting plaques.
The obsession with this dead-end approach has been fanatical, almost cultlike. Researchers who want to pursue more promising avenues have faced serious obstacles. Rarely has chronic failure resisted correction on something so important.
You may have heard of a new drug called lecanemab, which is being heralded as a fantastic breakthrough. But lecanemab is based on the wrongheaded plaques hypothesis. As noted health policy journalist Joanne Silberner sadly points out, “At best, lecanemab might slightly slow a patient’s inevitable decline for a few months.”
This research scandal shows the danger of groupthink, particularly when there’s a powerful government agency such as the National Institutes of Health putting the kibosh on grants for nonconsensus projects.
A classic case of similar groupthink involved the cause of stomach ulcers. The once-prevailing view was that stress and lifestyle were the cause, and drugs and regimens were developed on that belief.
This dogma was challenged by two Australian physicians, Robin Warren and Barry Marshall. They posited that the villain was bacteria and that antibiotics were the answer for a permanent cure. When not ignored, their discoveries were derided. Only after many years and constant, sometimes unorthodox advocacy, especially by Dr. Marshall, did the medical world accept their truths. The two were eventually awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
In the case of Alzheimer’s, the rigid research mentality has begun to soften, but only slightly. To attack this deadly rigidity, Congress should hold hearings on the subject, starting with the leaders at the National Institutes of Health.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveforbes/2023/02/07/the-scandal-of-alzheimers/?sh=34284da66a41&bsft_aaid=a4679c91-eb03-4591-93c2-79b7f25f9cbd&bsft_eid=15374f1b-1165-4402-b482-cdabfc723dde&utm_source=blueshift&bsft_clkid=39bb3ca5-f842-4f84-a918-78a3d2514c58&bsft_uid=8a4ab049-cac4-4359-ae99-bc1e70d3b870&bsft_mid=6fae9050-ef21-411e-9d1c-4e5f7b0849ca&bsft_utid=8a4ab049-cac4-4359-ae99-bc1e70d3b870-DRPROOF&bsft_mime_type=html&bsft_ek=2023-02-07T21%3A30%3A36Z&bsft_lx=20&bsft_tv=4&pk=ce01a6586b8394cd219d9d4151b05359&utm_campaign=DAP_ISSUE_02.07.23&utm_medium=email&vid2=9cd562d8abdeeda86039a61cc7e5dc63e585d49a727e626584f7ccd81870dffd80f6507937c7784a56ba72af38c88171
![Bullish](/static/images/ih2-bull.png)
Recent AVXL News
- Anavex Life Sciences to Present at the H.C. Wainwright 5th Annual Neuro Perspectives Virtual Conference • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 06/20/2024 11:30:00 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 06/17/2024 11:30:10 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences Announces Expansion of Leadership Team • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/22/2024 11:30:00 AM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/17/2024 10:01:00 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences to Present at the H.C. Wainwright 2nd BioConnect Investor Conference at NASDAQ • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/14/2024 11:30:00 AM
- Shareholders that lost money on Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL) Urged to Join Class Action - Contact The Gross Law Firm to Learn More • PR Newswire (US) • 05/10/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/09/2024 08:35:55 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/09/2024 12:00:30 PM
- Anavex Life Sciences Reports Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/09/2024 11:30:00 AM
- The Gross Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL) Shareholders • PR Newswire (US) • 05/07/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Form DEFA14A - Additional definitive proxy soliciting materials and Rule 14(a)(12) material • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 05/06/2024 10:03:33 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences Corporation Sued for Securities Law Violations - Contact The Gross Law Firm Before May 13, 2024 to Discuss Your Rights - AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 05/03/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences to Announce Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Financial Results on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 05/02/2024 11:30:00 AM
- May 13, 2024 Deadline: Contact The Gross Law Firm to Join Class Action Suit Against AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 04/26/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Contact The Gross Law Firm by May 13, 2024 Deadline to Join Class Action Against Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL) • PR Newswire (US) • 04/19/2024 09:45:00 AM
- The Gross Law Firm Reminds Shareholders of a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of May 13, 2024 in Anavex Life Sciences Lawsuit - AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 04/16/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Class Action Filed Against Anavex Life Sciences Corporation (AVXL) - May 13, 2024 Deadline to Join - Contact The Gross Law Firm • PR Newswire (US) • 04/12/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences to Present at the Noble Capital Markets Virtual Healthcare Equity Conference • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/11/2024 11:30:00 AM
- Class Action Filed Against Anavex Life Sciences Corporation (AVXL) - May 13, 2024 Deadline to Join - Contact The Gross Law Firm • PR Newswire (US) • 04/09/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences Corporation Class Action: The Gross Law Firm Reminds Anavex Life Sciences Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of May 13, 2024 - AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 04/05/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Shareholders that lost money on Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL) should contact The Gross Law Firm about pending Class Action - AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 04/02/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Lost Money on Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL)? Join Class Action Suit Seeking Recovery - Contact The Gross Law Firm • PR Newswire (US) • 03/29/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Investors who lost money on Anavex Life Sciences Corporation(AVXL) should contact The Gross Law Firm about pending Class Action - AVXL • PR Newswire (US) • 03/26/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Anavex Life Sciences to Present at the 23rd Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/25/2024 11:30:00 AM
Last Shot Hydration Drink Announced as Official Sponsor of Red River Athletic Conference • EQLB • Jun 20, 2024 2:38 PM
ATWEC Announces Major Acquisition and Lays Out Strategic Growth Plans • ATWT • Jun 20, 2024 7:09 AM
North Bay Resources Announces Composite Assays of 0.53 and 0.44 Troy Ounces per Ton Gold in Trenches B + C at Fran Gold, British Columbia • NBRI • Jun 18, 2024 9:18 AM
VAYK Assembling New Management Team for $64 Billion Domestic Market • VAYK • Jun 18, 2024 9:00 AM
Fifty 1 Labs, Inc Announces Acquisition of Drago Knives, LLC • CAFI • Jun 18, 2024 8:45 AM
Hydromer Announces Attainment of ISO 13485 Certification • HYDI • Jun 17, 2024 9:22 AM