How Science Should Be Interpreted

In this engaging first episode of "The Present Illness," physician-hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the complexities of public health, politics, and culture. They discuss the controversial claims surrounding Tylenol and autism, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence and the dangers of misinformation. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by patients trying to access care, the medical community, the impact of deregulation, and the role of social media in spreading health-related myths. With humor and insight, Arghavan and Alyssa aim to make sense of a world that often feels febrile and underdiagnosed, inviting listeners to join them in exploring these critical issues.

00:00 Introduction to The Present Illness Podcast

The Swedish Study: Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. Ahlqvist VH, et al. JAMA. 2024.

04:59 The Role of Science in Public Health 10:49 Eugenics and the Stigmatization of Autism

16:19 The Impact of Misinformation on Public Perception

Co-author of study linking Tylenol to autism says pain reliever still an option. Politico.

Harvard’s Public Health Dean Was Paid $150,000 to Testify Tylenol Causes Autism. The Harvard Crimson.

21:51 The Importance of Research Funding

Danish Study of Aluminum in Vaccines: Aluminum-Adsorbed Vaccines and Chronic Diseases in Childhood: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Andersson NW, et al. Ann Intern Med.

Explaining the Danish Study on Aluminum in Vaccines. VaccinateYourFamily.org.

27:38 The Future of Public Health and Vaccination

Book: The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century By Deborah Blum

33:36 The Role of NIH in Rare Disease Research

The Persian word Sheytân (شیطان) for "devil" or "evil spirit" is borrowed from the Arabic shayṭān (شَيْطَان).

39:11 The Dangers of Misinformation in Cancer Treatment

45:41 The Importance of Early Detection in Cancer

Cartoon: Autism Causes Vaccines. smbccomics on Instagram.

Thanks for listening to The Present Illness with Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart!

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Read our hot takes at Arghavan’s Substack and Poppies & Propofol