Every few years there is a paper that claims that we now finally know what causes the disease, and every time it's something different, and every time you never hear of a followup.
It's about 3 decades later now, and as far as I can tell, there is still no actual progress in the way of treatment. An alzheimer's diagnosis still means the same as it did in the 80's or in the 60's for that matter.
About this cure that is just around the corner. It came too late for my grandparents generation, it came too late for my parents' generation, it came too late for my generation, I wouldn't be surprised if it came too late for my children's generation. I don't believe in it any more.
Keep in mind that they still haven't really decided whether salt is bad for you or not, or what the real effects of dietary cholesterol are. Widespread conditions that should be much easier to research and understand than Alzheimer's are still very controversial.
The way the media reports on research (not just medical) is really messed up.
The scientific community needs to get its own act together before criticizing the popular media. Few other scientific disciplines are less reliable than medical research, and even fewer are more important.
Might have something to do with wanting simple answers. I notice this happening on HN.
If I add a new post where it's a general science article I post both the general article and the original academic paper. HN readers choose the general over the technical article most times except when it comes to HN technical areas of interest. The level of reader understanding may influence article choice.
But there have been some doozies in Korean science, especially the stem cell guy who really embarrassed and shamed his country with the extent of deception he practiced. Brilliant, but also crazy.
My point is that it was a generalization against korean scientists and a few instances is not representative of an entire group. Your point seems to be that the korean instances are somehow higher profile, but if that was the case then UK research science would be the worst because the vaccine/autism scandal has probably had the most far reaching after effects and infamy.
Ratio of U.S. to ROK scientists is about 6:1.[2]
OK, so # of scientists isn't 10:1. But in terms of scientific activity, the U.S. is far and away more productive.
1. http://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php 2. http://chartsbin.com/view/1124
It's almost as if you are saying that some fraud is to be expected and is therefore fine when actually any fraud is wrong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_misconduct#Notable_...
Do you feel the same way about US scientific research?
BTW, I am not even talking about Fox News and alike. NYT, you are in the list. The journalistic integrity of your articles has been dropping like a rock.
[1] http://www.dailyprogress.com/lifestyles/health/former-vcu-ca...
[2] http://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/probe-reveals-fo...
[3] http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/12/03/national/science...
[4] http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/toronto-researchers-alleged-to-...
[5] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-09/17/c_134632381.htm
This LiveScience[1] article is an easily read summary that also mentions a critique of the approach.
Given the unfortunate history[2][3] of falsified Korean scientific research, it would be prudent to withhold judgment until these results have been reproduced in other labs around the world.
1. http://www.livescience.com/53019-epps-chemical-washes-away-a...
2. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/world/asia/27clone.html?_r...
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/0...