Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
@joshuacahan.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Director of Clinical Translation, Abrams Research Center on Neurogenomics
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Director of Clinical Translation, Abrams Research Center on Neurogenomics
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease
Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
According to @jeremymberg.bsky.social
the number of new Alzheimer’s research projects receiving funding this yr is down 49%
Fewer projects will be funded as awards will be given in lump sum upfront.
This has been shown to lower success rates & stifle innovation.
🧪 beingpatient.com/alzheimers-r...
the number of new Alzheimer’s research projects receiving funding this yr is down 49%
Fewer projects will be funded as awards will be given in lump sum upfront.
This has been shown to lower success rates & stifle innovation.
🧪 beingpatient.com/alzheimers-r...
NIH Alzheimer’s Research Funding Is Back — for 49% Fewer Projects
Though the NIH director is calling for $187 million more in funding for Alzheimer’s, the NIH is funding fewer new projects.
beingpatient.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
According to @jeremymberg.bsky.social
the number of new Alzheimer’s research projects receiving funding this yr is down 49%
Fewer projects will be funded as awards will be given in lump sum upfront.
This has been shown to lower success rates & stifle innovation.
🧪 beingpatient.com/alzheimers-r...
the number of new Alzheimer’s research projects receiving funding this yr is down 49%
Fewer projects will be funded as awards will be given in lump sum upfront.
This has been shown to lower success rates & stifle innovation.
🧪 beingpatient.com/alzheimers-r...
“To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer.”
October 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
“To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer.”
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
I made signs expressing points of disagreement with the government
October 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I made signs expressing points of disagreement with the government
Menthol cigarettes for AD? Surprisingly cholinergic effects of nicotine have a more established plausible mechanism. 🤓
“In mice with Alzheimer's, the course of menthol for a six-month-long period was enough to stop the cognitive abilities and memory capabilities of the mice from deteriorating.”
#scicomm
#neuroskyence
www.sciencealert.com/unexpected-l...
🧪 🧠 👃
#scicomm
#neuroskyence
www.sciencealert.com/unexpected-l...
🧪 🧠 👃
Unexpected Link Between Menthol And Alzheimer's Found in Mice
In recent years, scientists have discovered something strange: When mice with Alzheimer's disease inhale menthol, their cognitive abilities improve.
www.sciencealert.com
September 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Menthol cigarettes for AD? Surprisingly cholinergic effects of nicotine have a more established plausible mechanism. 🤓
When political theory catches up to neuroscience(re: PTSD, conditioning, empathy networks, psychopathy, just to start) political violence will have less support. Rage and trauma and desensitization multiply to disastrous end. Such cycles are hard to stop in individuals and societies alike.
Political violence is bad. It usually begets more political violence.
Celebrating political violence is bad. It usually encourages more political violence, against various targets.
Campus shootings are bad. They make everyone on campus less safe.
It's bad that what I wrote here is controversial.
Celebrating political violence is bad. It usually encourages more political violence, against various targets.
Campus shootings are bad. They make everyone on campus less safe.
It's bad that what I wrote here is controversial.
September 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
When political theory catches up to neuroscience(re: PTSD, conditioning, empathy networks, psychopathy, just to start) political violence will have less support. Rage and trauma and desensitization multiply to disastrous end. Such cycles are hard to stop in individuals and societies alike.
He and Marshall Allen are still carrying the torch from a generation of musicians that still bring so much light to the world. To many more. ❤️ 🎂 🎈 🎷
September 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
He and Marshall Allen are still carrying the torch from a generation of musicians that still bring so much light to the world. To many more. ❤️ 🎂 🎈 🎷
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
US health insurers are raising insurance premiums by the most in 15 years.
Recall that Trump recently threatened 250% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. GOP lawmakers also chose not to extend the expanded premium tax credits that expire at the end of this year
Recall that Trump recently threatened 250% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. GOP lawmakers also chose not to extend the expanded premium tax credits that expire at the end of this year
Americans face biggest increase in health insurance costs in 15 years
Rising premiums add to pressure on households already feeling the pinch from the high price of goods
on.ft.com
September 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
US health insurers are raising insurance premiums by the most in 15 years.
Recall that Trump recently threatened 250% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. GOP lawmakers also chose not to extend the expanded premium tax credits that expire at the end of this year
Recall that Trump recently threatened 250% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. GOP lawmakers also chose not to extend the expanded premium tax credits that expire at the end of this year
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
At Northwestern Medicine, Super Agers are defined as people aged 80+ with delayed word recall raw scores at least equal to people 20-30 years younger. With 25 year follow-up, what do their brains looks like at post-mortem?
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
August 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
At Northwestern Medicine, Super Agers are defined as people aged 80+ with delayed word recall raw scores at least equal to people 20-30 years younger. With 25 year follow-up, what do their brains looks like at post-mortem?
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
A nice write up on our longstanding Super Ager study, which helped to popularize the term, but more importantly, is yielding fascinating insights into resilience in aging.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...
The One Quality Most ‘Super-Agers’ Share
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A nice write up on our longstanding Super Ager study, which helped to popularize the term, but more importantly, is yielding fascinating insights into resilience in aging.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/w...
After feeling like garbage for the past week with the fluctuations in air quality, I never knew how acutely and profoundly poor air quality could impact my wellbeing. It is a new dystopian yearly phenomenon in Chicago. Still we are lucky here, more resilient to climate change than others.
Editorial: Extreme weather events are common in the US and are becoming more frequent, severe, and expensive.
Three articles on wildfires emphasize the importance of planning, surveillance, and response.
ja.ma/45mV7aS
Three articles on wildfires emphasize the importance of planning, surveillance, and response.
ja.ma/45mV7aS
August 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
After feeling like garbage for the past week with the fluctuations in air quality, I never knew how acutely and profoundly poor air quality could impact my wellbeing. It is a new dystopian yearly phenomenon in Chicago. Still we are lucky here, more resilient to climate change than others.
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations.”
RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.
apnews.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:14 AM
“I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations.”
A very nice interview with my colleague, Dr. Ian Grant, on the topic of GLP-1 inhibitors and dementia. It’s so rare that journalists publish long form interviews instead of talking points. Take a listen! @nmneurology.bsky.social @wgntv.com
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
wgnradio.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A very nice interview with my colleague, Dr. Ian Grant, on the topic of GLP-1 inhibitors and dementia. It’s so rare that journalists publish long form interviews instead of talking points. Take a listen! @nmneurology.bsky.social @wgntv.com
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
To describe those who fall pray to mass delusion, it’s no longer “drinking the kool aid” it is henceforth known as “drinking the orange juice”.
August 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
To describe those who fall pray to mass delusion, it’s no longer “drinking the kool aid” it is henceforth known as “drinking the orange juice”.
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
1/3 It's official, our grants from the NIH/NIEHS have all been suspended. We were aiming to understand how arsenic, a chemical that millions of Americans are exposed to at high levels, is disrupting the epigenetic machinery.
August 1, 2025 at 8:59 PM
1/3 It's official, our grants from the NIH/NIEHS have all been suspended. We were aiming to understand how arsenic, a chemical that millions of Americans are exposed to at high levels, is disrupting the epigenetic machinery.
Henceforth my poor spelling, no longer a failing, shall be considered a tender mark of a genuine human creation. Evidence that no LLM was used in this writing. ✍️
July 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Henceforth my poor spelling, no longer a failing, shall be considered a tender mark of a genuine human creation. Evidence that no LLM was used in this writing. ✍️
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
First time in Canada and couldn’t imagine a better reason than for #AAIC2025! Find me during the conference walking around in my purple ISTAART Ambassador shirt or at my poster on Sunday. Drop by or reach out if you want to connect! 🍁🧠💜
July 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
First time in Canada and couldn’t imagine a better reason than for #AAIC2025! Find me during the conference walking around in my purple ISTAART Ambassador shirt or at my poster on Sunday. Drop by or reach out if you want to connect! 🍁🧠💜
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
Last year, our free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) answered over 223,000 calls and online chats. This impact is possible because of YOU💜
See how you’re helping advance Alzheimer’s research, care, support and advocacy 👉 alz.org/about/our-impact #ENDALZ
See how you’re helping advance Alzheimer’s research, care, support and advocacy 👉 alz.org/about/our-impact #ENDALZ
July 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Last year, our free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) answered over 223,000 calls and online chats. This impact is possible because of YOU💜
See how you’re helping advance Alzheimer’s research, care, support and advocacy 👉 alz.org/about/our-impact #ENDALZ
See how you’re helping advance Alzheimer’s research, care, support and advocacy 👉 alz.org/about/our-impact #ENDALZ
He lived a public and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease, other conditions. The fact that he performed so recently to a stadium of loving fans should be an inspiration to many with chronic illness. Rest in peace to the Prince of Darkness 🦇 ⚰️ 🎸 🤘
Ozzy Osbourne has died at age 76, just weeks after his farewell concert
Ozzy Osbourne Dead At 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic heavy metal vocalist who helped to pioneer the genre as the frontman of Black Sabbath and went on to launch a successful solo career, the influential traveling music festival...
www.stereogum.com
July 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM
He lived a public and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease, other conditions. The fact that he performed so recently to a stadium of loving fans should be an inspiration to many with chronic illness. Rest in peace to the Prince of Darkness 🦇 ⚰️ 🎸 🤘
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
July 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
![Comic. [Person with ponytail using handheld device in front of a large sign with crooked, off-center header, with crooked QR code (with illegible URL) and crooked list beneath] Header: DOANATE TO FIX THIS SIGN! List: $10 Fix kerning [kerning around “rni” of kerning is difficult to read]; $20 Align Columns [out of alignment] $20 Fix text size [much smaller text size]; $50 Fix typo; $50 Fix centering; $100 fix rotation. PERSON: Grrr… [caption] My new company’s business model is based on extorting graphic designers.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreidspubnircp7xyx267adn6waakg76eb4giljnlwdh3zig5dqw7pbm@jpeg)
July 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Make Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Great Again! (MSSPEGA)
July 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Make Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Great Again! (MSSPEGA)
An important lesson for clinicians and caregivers, where you find the humanity you will find light. People with dementia have the same basic joys and fears as the rest of us. Humor, love, nostalgia, beauty are powerful tools.
I got permission to share this, and I'm extremely grateful for that.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
July 1, 2025 at 11:18 PM
An important lesson for clinicians and caregivers, where you find the humanity you will find light. People with dementia have the same basic joys and fears as the rest of us. Humor, love, nostalgia, beauty are powerful tools.
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
I got permission to share this, and I'm extremely grateful for that.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
July 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I got permission to share this, and I'm extremely grateful for that.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
The Onion got this letter from one of our subscribers in Alaska. She works with dementia patients and decided to leave a copy in the car for each one.
This email made my year. Read it and you'll see what I mean. People are good.
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
Our new paper is out in Science.
We identified a subgroup of cholinergic neurons that mediate sensory modality-specific attention. They change their funcitonal properties within secs of behavioral context change.
Congrats to Bin for the great thesis, and the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We identified a subgroup of cholinergic neurons that mediate sensory modality-specific attention. They change their funcitonal properties within secs of behavioral context change.
Congrats to Bin for the great thesis, and the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Cholinergic feedback for modality- and context-specific modulation of sensory representations
The brain’s ability to prioritize sensory information is crucial for adaptive behavior, yet its mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated basal forebrain cholinergic neurons modulating olfactory bulb...
www.science.org
June 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Our new paper is out in Science.
We identified a subgroup of cholinergic neurons that mediate sensory modality-specific attention. They change their funcitonal properties within secs of behavioral context change.
Congrats to Bin for the great thesis, and the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We identified a subgroup of cholinergic neurons that mediate sensory modality-specific attention. They change their funcitonal properties within secs of behavioral context change.
Congrats to Bin for the great thesis, and the team!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Joshua G. Cahan M.D.
"But I am blown away by how much we have learned about Alzheimer’s over the last couple of years."—Bill Gates
www.statnews.com/2025/06/17/b...
"This is the moment to spend more money on research, not less."
Agree 💯
erictopol.substack.com/p/predicting...
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-breakt...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/17/b...
"This is the moment to spend more money on research, not less."
Agree 💯
erictopol.substack.com/p/predicting...
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-breakt...
June 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"But I am blown away by how much we have learned about Alzheimer’s over the last couple of years."—Bill Gates
www.statnews.com/2025/06/17/b...
"This is the moment to spend more money on research, not less."
Agree 💯
erictopol.substack.com/p/predicting...
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-breakt...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/17/b...
"This is the moment to spend more money on research, not less."
Agree 💯
erictopol.substack.com/p/predicting...
erictopol.substack.com/p/the-breakt...