An Existential Crisis for Alzheimer's Research?

An Existential Crisis for Alzheimer's Research?

From Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production) by Josh Turknett, MD

February 28, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

This episode discusses a study revealing significant molecular differences between living and post-mortem brain tissue, questioning the foundation of Alzheimer's research.

In this episode, we discuss a study published in PLOS One that compared living brain tissue to post-mortem brain tissue and found dramatic molecular differences between the two. The findings raise serious questions about decades of Alzheimer's research built on post-mortem analysis and may help explain why pharmaceutical treatments for the disease have been so disappointing Study: A Study of RNA Splicing and Protein Expression in the Living Human Brain -------------- To submit a question for us to answer on the podcast, go to brainjo.academy/question . To subscribe to the free Better Brain Fitness newsletter, join us when we record live, and get our Guide and Checklist to essential blood tests and nutrients, go to: betterbrain.fitness . To learn more about how you can boost brain fitness with neuroscience-based musical instruction, head to brainjo.academy . Intro and Outro music composed and produced by Julienne Ellen .

People in this episode

Host: Josh Turknett, MD

Topics covered

  • Alzheimer's research
  • brain tissue study
  • molecular differences
  • pharmaceutical treatments
  • RNA splicing
  • protein expression

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's
  • brain tissue
  • molecular differences
  • pharmaceutical treatments
  • RNA splicing
  • protein expression

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PLOS One

Books & works: A Study of RNA Splicing and Protein Expression in the Living Human Brain

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