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2024-11-11

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The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are in doubt. The first Black psychiatrist challenged consensus over 100 years ago (lite.cnn.com)

submitted 19 hours ago by homesweethomeMrL to c/science

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Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly widespread, affecting more than 55 million people worldwide — a figure that’s expected to nearly triple by 2050.

Despite the disease’s prevalence, few know the history of research on Alzheimer’s and the role played by an important yet long-overlooked figure: Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, the first Black psychiatrist and neurologist in the United States.

Fuller’s work “not only advanced the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, but also exemplified how diverse backgrounds and perspectives in medical research can drive scientific progress and improve patient care across different communities,” said Dr. Chantale Branson, associate professor of neurology at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

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[–] JokklMaster 1 points 3 hours ago

As a researcher in the field, this article doesn't really give a good explanation of what's going on here. Seems to say he just doubted the cause but didn't provide any other ideas. Researchers right now are thinking the amyloid beta still plays a major part, the issue is free floating amyloid beta, not the plaques. The plaques therefore would just be another symptom of this free floating amyloid beta. Also, it's surprisingly similar to diabetes, just localized in the brain. So don't be overweight.

[–] acosmichippo 13 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

major reason why the cause is in doubt right now is a couple years ago this guy exposed repeated research fraud trying to prove that amyloid plaques were the sole cause of alzheimers which led to over a decade of wasted alzheimers research.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 18 hours ago

Fuller went on to treat patients with syphilis at a veterans hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama,

Oof, not the best career move, that one.

[–] solrize 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

There is a book called "Doctored" that argues that a lot of the foundational research on Alzheimer's and amyloid plaques was faked. Excerpt:

https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/doctored-book-excerpt/

Separately, there is supposedly some evidence now that Alzheimer's is caused by a virus, or by a history of viral infections.

[–] JokklMaster 2 points 3 hours ago

Separately, there is supposedly some evidence now that Alzheimer's is caused by a virus, or by a history of viral infections.

You got a citation for that?