zeddoh t1_iycvoc8 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 1:42 PM

Reply to comment by Relevant_Quantity_49 in Alzheimer's drug lecanemab hailed as momentous breakthrough by Methoszs

I’m going off what the head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society has said. Are you saying he’s wrong? Not trying to be combative - genuinely wondering.

““This is not a cure by any stretch of the imagination, but if it does slow cognitive decline, it means that for the first time we are modifying the disease,” says Dr Richard Oakley, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society.”” From here

Appreciate your analysis of the covid / Alzheimer’s research comparison, really interesting insights. Totally agree the explosion of Covid research was incredible to behold!

Relevant_Quantity_49 t1_iycxp6m wrote on November 30, 2022 at 1:59 PM

I'm saying he's premature. We aren't going to know if he's right or wrong until we see additional studies. This is how science works.

I think it's important to remember that professionals are just as prone to confusing what they want to be true with what is true as anyone else. When someone's entire career is oriented towards a certain goal, they're representative of an organization oriented towards a certain goal, and they're speaking to a reporter, I think that line can become even more blurry.

If you look at the entire quote, Oakley isn't even basing his statement in the research itself. He's basing it on what nebulous "people" and "everyone" are saying.

>“This is not a cure by any stretch of the imagination, but if it does slow cognitive decline, it means that for the first time we are modifying the disease,” says Dr Richard Oakley, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society. “We need to understand the real-world clinical benefit, but I’ve spoken to people and where there’s never been excitement, always hesitation, this does look like the real deal. We need to see the data, but everyone is now saying this is the beginning of disease-modifying treatments.”

If you have a strong study, you don't talk about how other people are telling you how exciting the study is. You talk about how exciting the study is. Furthermore, anywhere in that statement that he talks about the research, he talks about uncertainty. "We need to understand the real world clinical benefit, but..." meaning the study doesn't show that. "We need to see the data, but..." meaning it's not there yet.

If it was there, he would've said "The study shows..." or "The data shows..."

zeddoh t1_iyd4ibl wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:52 PM

Thanks for taking the time to explain. That article and the quotes were actually from a couple of weeks ago, before the full results of the study were released just yesterday (initially the drug company just released a summary statement), so he wouldn’t have been able to say ‘the study/data shows’ but I do take your point more broadly.

There are so many respected, expert scientists in this field (representing numerous organisations and institutions all over the world, not affiliated with the drug company) stating this is an exciting step forward and I believe them. More fool me perhaps. They aren’t saying it’s a magic pill, they’re saying it’s the start, while also rightly highlighting the numerous real issues now to be tackled through further investigation, additional studies, etc. That’s how science works, as you say. What happens next will be the proof in the pudding.