Freakonomics Radio

Author: Freakonomics Radio Stitcher

Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
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671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?
Episode 671
Friday, 17 April, 2026

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.