00:00Colombian science recently suffered a major shock.
00:04One of Colombia's most renowned scientific groups has several eyes on it.
00:08because a report published in the journal Science raised several questions apart from his work.
00:16We are referring to the neuroscience group in Antioquia, which has been a global leader in the study of Alzheimer's.
00:23I'm sure you've heard it.
00:24For more than three decades, led by the renowned neurologist Francisco Lopera, who has since passed away,
00:31This group has studied Antioquian families carrying a genetic mutation, the Paisa mutation,
00:38which causes a very particular hereditary form of Alzheimer's.
00:41Those who carry it begin to show symptoms between the ages of 45 and 50.
00:47These families have been a fundamental part of understanding this disease.
00:51And among their work, the researchers have found something extraordinary.
00:56Some people, despite having that mutation, developed symptoms much later than expected.
01:03These cases led to the discovery of two genetic variants that are believed to offer protection against Alzheimer's.
01:10However, the report published by Science magazine has raised some very serious questions.
01:18that are being discussed today in the halls of the Colombian Academy.
01:21This debate is so crucial that in our last Sunday edition we chose to dedicate four pages to it.
01:28to break down this matter very well.
01:31It was also the cover story and you can find it in full in the Health section of El Espectador.
01:36To do this, we consulted dementia specialists and, of course, the Neuroscience Group of Antioquia,
01:45who claims to have all the arguments to defend himself.
01:49Let's be frank.
01:50It is impossible to summarize such a long discussion in three or five minutes on social media.
01:56But it goes something like this.
01:58The authors of the Science report found that the ages recorded in the medical records of some patients
02:05They did not match those later presented in research on the possible protective effect.
02:11of a genetic variant identified by the GNA.
02:15In one of the cases, the difference reached 10 years.
02:18And as several specialists told us, those ages are crucial in determining if a genetic variant
02:25It can actually delay the onset of the disease.
02:29They also indicated that they believe some differences require a slightly more careful explanation.
02:36The GNA, for its part, maintains that the adjustments were made after a clinical review of the patients.
02:43and that do not change the interpretation of their results.
02:47Everyone is waiting.
02:49The second question has to do with scientific images.
02:53In very, very summarized terms, the specialists consulted by the Science journalistic team
03:00They found possible duplications or anomalies in images that supported several experiments.
03:06The GNA does acknowledge that some works have required clarifications or related corrections
03:13with the presentation and use of images.
03:16However, he argues that the main conclusions of those studies
03:22They do not depend solely on the questioned images, but on a broader set of evidence.
03:29And the third point has to do with a new genetic variant,
03:32which they called Macondo, and which would be the third potentially protective variant
03:38identified by the group.
03:40The GNA was preparing a scientific article to present that finding,
03:45But a draft reached the hands of Science journalists before its publication.
03:50The question is as follows.
03:52Some researchers felt that the evidence did not allow them to conclude that Macondo
03:58would by itself protect against Alzheimer's.
04:01But it's a debate that has a lot of ground to cover, as the results haven't been published yet.
04:06and should be examined in light of scientific evidence.
04:11For now, the entire Colombian academic community is awaiting an explanation from the GNA.
04:16And the University of Antioquia has already created an independent commission
04:21to review the allegations related to the group's investigations
04:25and determine if there are any inconsistencies and what their scope is.
04:29But as we told you, it's a much more complex discussion.
04:33And that's why we invite you to read the full report in the health section.
04:38And don't forget to follow us on our social media channels at El Espectador
04:41We are fascinated by these debates about science and health.
05:00Thank you.
05:00Thank you.
05:01Thank you.
05:02Thank you.
05:02Thank you.
05:03Thank you.
05:03Thank you.
