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by Robotbeat 1733 days ago
The problem is that it’s really hard to get good data, ethically, in medical sciences. Something that improves outcomes by 5-10% can be really important, but trying to get a study big enough to prove it can be super expensive already.
1 comments
TameAntelope 1733 days ago
Nobody likes being in the control group of the first working anti-aging serum...
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q-big 1733 days ago
> Nobody likes being in the control group of the first working anti-aging serum...

You only know whether it works when the study has been completed. You also only know whether the drug has (potentially) disastrous consequences when the study has been completed. Thus, I am not completely sure whether your claim holds.

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bluGill 1733 days ago
You missed the working part. Success was a prerequisite to their after the fact feelings. At least some of the control group will be in old age but still alive when we know it woris. They might not know if it is infinite life (and side effects may turn it into die at 85, so some control may outlive the intervention group after the study ), but they will know on average they did worse
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q-big 1733 days ago
> At least some of the control group will be in old age but still alive when we know it woris.

The anti-aging serum could work (i.e. make you older), but have strong negative side effects.

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TameAntelope 1733 days ago
So then it wouldn't "work", where "work" as used here is defined, "to function or operate according to plan or design".

And no, it's not reasonable to assume I meant "work" as in, "have an anti-aging serum that has strong negative side effects."

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q-big 1733 days ago
An anti-aging serum works if it reduces or removed specific (or even most/all?) effects that are related to aging.
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HWR_14 1733 days ago
People opt into the study in the first place. I'm willing to bet that no one opts into the study hoping to be in the control group.
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falcor84 1733 days ago
Well, some medical studies pay good money, so it's perfectly rational to sign up for these and hope to get the placebo.
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HWR_14 1733 days ago
Fair enough. I tend to think of most of them as paying just a small amount where the main goal is to get treatment, but I'm sure some pay better than others.
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