Trusting RFK Jr. to Research Vaccines is Like Trusting a Hungry Python to Babysit a Kitten

If RFK Jr. "researches" vaccines, he will certainly "discover" they cause autism. It's possible that this "research" will be used as justification to revoke authorization for vaccines. That's always been the endgame.

/ December 20, 2024

Homeopathy: Magical thinking, not medicine

The Science-Based Medicine blog was established way back in 2008. Since that time, contributors to this blog have been sounding the alarm about the harmful effects of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories related to health. Few people in positions of authority heeded these warnings or recognized the severity of the threat over the next decade. Sometimes we as health professionals were even mocked...

/ December 19, 2024

RFK Jr On Obesity

We have been giving a lot of attention to RFK Jr recently, with good reason. He is poised to be put in charge of the federal institutions that regulate health and medicine. This is beyond problematic, as he has a long list of antiscience opinions. Part of the problem is that he lacks topic expertise (he is not a health care professional...

/ December 18, 2024

Reality

Reality. Doesn't care what you think.

/ December 17, 2024

Anyone Who Supports Pro-RFK Jr. Doctors, Is Also Pro-RFK Jr.

We don't need "spirited debate" about RFK Jr. We've been trying to warn you about him for years. It's not our fault that some people didn't listen.

/ December 13, 2024
A group of five elderly people, three women and two men, walk on a path in a park. Two women are using Nordic walking poles. The group is smiling and wearing casual, sporty clothing. Trees and greenery surround the path.

Health Benefits of the Weekend Warrior

I tend to view skeptically science reporting that leans heavily on simplistic concepts and flashy titles. However, “skeptical” does not mean “dismissive”. Mainstream reporting may focus on click-bait terms but that does not necessarily mean anything about the underlying science. I have seen lots of recent headlines about the benefits of being a “weekend warrior” and decided to look at the primary...

/ December 11, 2024
An NIH study section

Are NIH study sections a waste of time?

Since the nomination of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for NIH Director, I've been seeing a suggestion from certain contrarian doctors for a "randomized trial" of study sections vs. a "modified lottery" to determine which grant applications are funded by the NIH. Just what the heck is Dr. Vinay Prasad talking about?

/ December 9, 2024

Actually Dr. Adam Cifu, It’s Fine to “Attack” Doctors Who Profit By Spreading Pro-RFK Jr. Propaganda

Doctors who profit in any way by normalizing RFK Jr. should be calmly and politely reminded of this at every opportunity for the rest of their careers. They are not entitled to a safe space.

/ December 8, 2024
A tall pine tree with lush green needles is set against a clear blue sky, capturing the sunlight filtering through its branches.

Pycnogenol – Does maritime pine bark extract live up to the hype?

Prescribed medicines are somewhat resistant to fads. Marketing can certainly drive demand and use, but long-term use tends to be driven by effectiveness. Some medicines used routinely today are decades old (e.g., penicillin for strep throat) because nothing better has been identified. Other drugs may be used for decades, only to largely disappear as newer, more effective treatments are introduced (I’m thinking...

/ December 5, 2024