The Freakonomics Radio Book Club

32. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?

Listen Later

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.

 

  • SOURCES:
    • Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, author of Doctored.
    • Matthew Schrag, associate professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

      •  

      • RESOURCES:
        • Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's, by Charles Piller (2025).
        • "The brain makes a lot of waste. Now scientists think they know where it goes," by Jon Hamilton (NPR, 2024).
        • "The history of Alzheimer’s disease," by Lisa Kiani and Richard Hodson (Nature, 2024).

          •  

          • EXTRAS:
            • "Can Marty Makary Fix the F.D.A.?" by Freakonomics Radio (2026).
            • "Are You Ready for the Elder Swell?" by Freakonomics Radio (2025).

              • Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              The Freakonomics Radio Book ClubBy Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5

              4.5

              232 ratings

              More shows like The Freakonomics Radio Book Club

              View all
              This American Life by This American Life

              This American Life

              91,001 Listeners

              TED Radio Hour by NPR

              TED Radio Hour

              21,875 Listeners

              Radiolab by WNYC Studios

              Radiolab

              43,948 Listeners

              Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              Freakonomics Radio

              32,090 Listeners

              Planet Money by NPR

              Planet Money

              30,718 Listeners

              Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

              Hidden Brain

              43,582 Listeners

              Invisibilia by NPR

              Invisibilia

              21,600 Listeners

              99% Invisible by Roman Mars

              99% Invisible

              26,221 Listeners

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast by Earwolf and Scott Aukerman

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast

              13,247 Listeners

              The Sporkful by Dan Pashman

              The Sporkful

              3,944 Listeners

              Something You Should Know by Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media

              Something You Should Know

              4,267 Listeners

              Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

              Ologies with Alie Ward

              24,560 Listeners

              The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

              The Indicator from Planet Money

              9,530 Listeners

              Choiceology with Katy Milkman by Charles Schwab

              Choiceology with Katy Milkman

              1,445 Listeners

              The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

              The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

              14,445 Listeners

              No Dogs in Space by The Last Podcast Network

              No Dogs in Space

              2,239 Listeners

              No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              No Stupid Questions

              3,626 Listeners

              The Walkout by SiriusXM

              The Walkout

              185 Listeners

              Park Predators by Audiochuck

              Park Predators

              18,047 Listeners

              Coaches Clubhouse by SiriusXM

              Coaches Clubhouse

              32 Listeners

              SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

              SmartLess

              58,186 Listeners

              Rise and Schein by SiriusXM

              Rise and Schein

              115 Listeners

              People I (Mostly) Admire by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              People I (Mostly) Admire

              2,034 Listeners

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire by SiriusXM

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire

              22 Listeners

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish by SiriusXM

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish

              89 Listeners

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender by SiriusXM

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender

              18 Listeners

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City by The Last Podcast Network

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

              431 Listeners

              The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

              The Mel Robbins Podcast

              19,736 Listeners

              Owned with Rex Chapman by SmartLess Media

              Owned with Rex Chapman

              163 Listeners

              The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

              The Economics of Everyday Things

              1,634 Listeners

              The Bone Whisperers by SiriusXM & NYU Langone

              The Bone Whisperers

              27 Listeners

              Victoria & Friends by SiriusXM

              Victoria & Friends

              18 Listeners

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast by SiriusXM Podcasts

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast

              801 Listeners

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive by SiriusXM

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive

              95 Listeners

              The Trendcast by SiriusXM Media

              The Trendcast

              2 Listeners