Evaluating new advances in Alzheimer’s research: separating hype from fact

We all know that Alzheimer’s is an enormous problem. Thousands of researchers around the world are tirelessly searching for clues that might lead to a solution – how to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s.  Reports of new findings are in the news almost daily.  How do we know what is potentially important?

Science progresses a little like the building of a pyramid. The blocks of the pyramid are hypotheses, informed guesses about how something might work.  The hypothesis is tested in an experiment.  If proven true, the hypothesis becomes a block in the pyramid supporting and informing the next layer. If false, it is modified and retested or discarded. Block by block, layer by layer, the pyramid grows until ultimately the last block is laid at the top, and a theory is accepted, at least for the present. Unlike building a pyramid, science is fluid.  Previous theories that had seemed sound may be challenged by new discoveries leading to reevaluation of the theory. The pyramid may need some modification.

Evaluating the potential importance of new discoveries depends on the collective assessment by other scientists working in the field.  This results in a peer-reviewed paper in a medical or scientific journal. For papers submitted to top journals like The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, BMJ, Science, Nature, The Lancet, and many others, this vetting is very rigorous, and the majority of papers submitted may be rejected. Lay publications vary in the rigor with which they report on new discoveries. Although there are a number of news outlets with good science reporters, my favorite and most trusted is the New York Times.  All of its science and medical writers are excellent, and several experts in the field are almost always consulted for articles about new advances.  For those wanting to delve more deeply into the science behind recent advances I recommend AlzForum, a website for discourse among Alzheimer’s experts. An excellent overview of our current knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease is the Alzheimer’s Association’s 93-page Alzheimer’s Disease 2021 Facts and Figures, an authoritative monograph for general readers that is updated annually. On the other extreme are stories originating from pharmaceutical company press releases before any publication in peer-reviewed journals.  Take these with a grain of salt. 

Books about Alzheimer’s disease may be harder to evaluate for accuracy.  If published by an academic press, they will have been reviewed by peers just like a scientific paper. Blogs, including this one, and other social media posts generally have no outside review, no fact checking at all, so caveat emptor!