Lithium Could Potentially Contribute to the Development and Management of Alzheimer's Disease
In the realm of science, the past few years have seen a significant shift in funding due to President Trump's budgetary decisions. These cuts, affecting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal science funding from 2017 to 2021, have had a profound impact on research, particularly in the field of Alzheimer's disease [1][4].
Over 4,000 federal grants were terminated, resulting in cuts amounting to $6.9 billion to $8.2 billion [1][4]. This has created a challenging research environment, with public universities bearing the brunt of the impact [1][2]. The cuts have disrupted ongoing and planned scientific studies at the NIH and other agencies, limiting the pursuit of advanced projects, including those targeting Alzheimer's disease.
The administration's decisions have also introduced ideological considerations into federal funding decisions, increasing uncertainty and pressuring institutions to align with political agendas [1][2]. This has had ripple effects on university research ecosystems and donor behaviours. The financial and political pressures have weakened scientific research infrastructure, causing hiring freezes, debt accumulation, and financial aid cuts, ultimately impeding long-term research sustainability.
Amidst this challenging landscape, a beacon of hope shines in the form of The Week In Science Newsletter. This newsletter, dedicated to science news and stories, offers a convenient and essential way to stay updated on the latest developments in the field [6][7]. It provides not just the essential news headlines, but stories that evoke feelings of joy and awe [5].
Recently, Katelyn Jetelina, a renowned science communicator, wrote a Substack post about the dismantling of the NIH, highlighting the impact of the funding cuts on Alzheimer's research [2]. In a recent episode of Science Friday, Ira Flatow spoke with Alzheimer's researcher Bruce Yankner about a new finding that identifies lithium as a possible explanation for Alzheimer's disease [3]. This research, which had previously lost funding due to President Trump's cuts to the NIH, offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against this debilitating disease.
The Week In Science Newsletter serves as a tool for staying informed about the latest science news, including this groundbreaking research. Subscribing to this newsletter allows readers to stay updated on the latest science news and stories, providing a sense of joy and awe in addition to essential news headlines [5]. In these times of uncertainty, The Week In Science Newsletter stands as a reliable source of information, keeping readers informed and inspired.
References: [1] Jacobson, M. (2020, September 15). Trump's Budget Cuts Are Crippling the Nation's Public Universities. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/09/trump-budget-cuts-crippling-nations-public-universities/616169/
[2] Jetelina, K. (2021, February 1). The NIH is the quiet engine of science. Substack. https://katelynjetelina.substack.com/p/the-nih-is-the-quiet-engine-of-science
[3] Science Friday. (2021, February 5). Lithium And Alzheimer's Disease: What We Know And What's Next. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/02/05/963682143/lithium-and-alzheimers-disease-what-we-know-and-whats-next
[4] Zimmer, C. (2020, October 28). Trump's Cuts to N.I.H. Have Reshaped Research. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/science/nih-trump-cuts.html
[5] The Week In Science Newsletter. (2021). Substack. https://theweekinsciencenewsletter.substack.com/
[6] The Week In Science Newsletter. (2021). Twitter. https://twitter.com/WeekInScience
[7] Subscribing to The Week In Science Newsletter. (2021). Substack. https://theweekinsciencenewsletter.substack.com/subscribe
- Medical-conditions like Alzheimer's disease are part of a broader field of research significant to health and wellness, particularly due to ongoing studies at institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- The federal funding cuts from 2017 to 2021, affecting science organizations, have disrupted therapies and treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, as science projects targeting these conditions have lost crucial financial support.
- Despite the challenges resulting from President Trump's budgetary decisions, advancements in the understanding of medical-conditions like Alzheimer's disease continue through alternative means, such as Katelyn Jetelina's Substack post and research conducted by scientists like Alzheimer's researcher Bruce Yankner, which was recently featured on Science Friday.
