Karl Herrup
asparatics.bsky.social
Karl Herrup
@asparatics.bsky.social
An aging neuroscientist (in every sense of that phrase). Respects science and logic. Does not suffer fools gladly. Progressive in outlook. Member Scotch Malt Whiskey Society. You should taste my smoked brisket.
Program committee put our Alzheimer poster in the ultrasound group. OK we have some MEA data, but still. Come see a lovely APP DNA damage story. You won’t regret the trek to RR
November 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Planning to resubmit something sitting at 9%. Makes me want to look for another job.
August 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Dollars to donuts those parts were “written” by ChatGPT. I had exactly that experience with the program. Since I verified everything first, it makes for a funny story (& a cautionary tale), but it might not be great way to write a MAHA report.
npr.org NPR @npr.org · May 30
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" report cited hundreds of studies, but a closer look by the news organization NOTUS found that some of those studies did not exist.
White House acknowledges problems in RFK Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' report
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" report cited hundreds of studies, but a closer look by the news organization NOTUS found that some of those studies did not exist.
n.pr
May 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
The Coming Out of a Transgender Scientist
"I know that I am making the right decision because whenever I think about changing my gender role, I am flooded with feelings of relief."
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
April 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
My colleague in Japan asked me last week why Americans were so quiet. I told her that the media bore a lot of the blame. Guess I was right.
On Saturday, April 5, it's estimated millions of Americans took to the streets for “Hands Off!” demonstrations. Even with conservative estimates, we’re talking one of the largest mobilizations in recent American history.

But you’d barely know it happened.
Print Media to Mass Protests: “Please Turn to Page 18”
Here’s how newspapers across America minimized one of the largest demonstrations since Trump’s return to power.
newrepublic.com
April 7, 2025 at 9:40 PM
My home town at noon today. Very proud.
April 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
OK. This might not be the most important bit of news right now. But MIT Press has announced that my book, How Not to Study a Disease, will be on the Penguin Random House Backlist Marketing program. On April 21st, the ebook will be discounted to $1.99, and marketing will run with Kindle and BookBub.
April 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
NYU canceled a planned speech by the former president of Doctors Without Borders because she planned to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and cuts to US AID.

This is what actual campus censorship looks like.
‘Climate of fear’: Montreal doctor says NYU cancelled her presentation
A Montreal doctor says her presentation at NYU was abruptly cancelled and believes the university did so out of fear of being pressured by the Donald Trump administration.
www.ctvnews.ca
March 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My town! Showing how it’s done.
In Pittsburgh our #TeslaTakedown protest is GROWING ❤️
March 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
In Pittsburgh our #TeslaTakedown protest is GROWING ❤️
March 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I second that (with dollars as well as kudos)
Good luck, Kat. Great to see passionate, smart, young people running for office.
If you want to know more about me, my campaign, and what we're trying to differently (which is a lot!), you can go to katforillinois.com.
March 24, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
🧵Yesterday, I received notice that my #NIH grant, on the social environment, lifecourse, epigenetics & #birthoutcomes in Black families, was terminated. This grant represented a critical effort to address the ⬆️ rates of maternal & infant mortality in the US, particularly among Black mothers & babies
March 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40110649/

I love how this abstract puts a reverse spin on the results. They conclude that cognitive decline does not predict amyloid deposition. For me the data is really telling us that amyloid does not drive cognitive decline. Did I miss something?

#alzheimers #amyloid
March 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I watched. It was informative and helpful.
In case you missed the SfN webinar on data management, it will be available online soon neuronline.sfn.org/scientific-r...
March 19, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Interesting move by Schumer to cave and disappoint everyone and then immediately go do an extended NYT interview explaining that actually he is even worse than we thought, let’s see if this pays off for him
March 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
And you never EVER have my vote again.
My YES vote is *not* an endorsement of this deeply flawed CR.

My YES vote is 💯 about refusing to shut our government down.

I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos.
 
I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down.
March 15, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
My YES vote is *not* an endorsement of this deeply flawed CR.

My YES vote is 💯 about refusing to shut our government down.

I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos.
 
I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever vote to shut our government down.
March 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Hey Democratic Party,

You ain’t raising money until you start raising hell.

Sincerely,

A Huge Portion of Your Supporters
March 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
I'm 💯 with Al Green.

As for the 10 high-road, yellow-bellied, can't-read-the-room-worth-a-crap tits-on-a-bull-useless democrats who voted to censure him...I have no comment.
March 6, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
📌NOTE: Immediately after the vile attack on Zelensky by Putin's puppets Friday, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries should have called a joint press conference and explained to the American public the significance, heinousness and danger of that sickening surrender.

📌They should STILL be talking now.
March 1, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Amen. @schumer.senate.gov, as we New Yorkers know well, would use the making of a pastrami sandwich as an excuse for a Sunday press conference. Where is he? And I'm sick of @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social muted tones. It is time to shout in defense of democracy not just in America but in the world.
📌NOTE: Immediately after the vile attack on Zelensky by Putin's puppets Friday, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries should have called a joint press conference and explained to the American public the significance, heinousness and danger of that sickening surrender.

📌They should STILL be talking now.
March 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Lecanemab vs. placebo as seen through the eyes of caregiver burden. Great paper. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
Obama and Biden may think they are honoring the office of the presidency by keeping quiet at a moment like this — if so that’s just preening vanity — they owe it to the office and to the Republic that until last month it served to speak up loudly and clearly and without relent.
February 28, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Karl Herrup
I wish you would revise this piece. We know the drug works in individuals because randomized controlled trials were done. Drug slows progression.
February 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Thank you NPR. Your thoughtful story highlights how small the benefits are for most people taking these costly treatments (costly in time and money). The biology never supported the link between plaques and dementia, and I say that after 30 yrs in the field.
npr.org NPR @npr.org · Feb 26
Sue Bell became one of the first Alzheimer's patients in the U.S. to receive the drug now marketed as Leqembi. Her husband isn't sure if it made a difference.
Did an Alzheimer's drug give Sue and Ken Bell more time? Maybe
Sue Bell became one of the first Alzheimer's patients in the U.S. to receive the drug now marketed as Leqembi. Her husband isn't sure if it made a difference.
www.npr.org
February 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM