Alzheimer’s Researcher Placed on Leave; War on Drug Recovery; Lax Coroner Oversight

Welcome to the latest edition of Investigative Roundup, highlighting some of the best investigative reporting on healthcare each week.

Alzheimer’s Researcher Faces Scrutiny

Berislav Zlokovic, MD, PhD, a prominent Alzheimer’s researcher and the head of a major neuroscience institute at the University of Southern California (USC), was placed on an indefinite leave of absence, according to a Science investigation.

A USC official declined to clarify why Zlokovic was placed on leave, but Science noted that he has faced scrutiny since its 2023 investigation revealed evidence of scientific misconduct.

Science also found that a planned clinical trial for a stroke drug candidate that Zlokovic helped develop was formally canceled by the company that sponsored the $30 million study. The NIH reportedly required USC return nearly $2 million in funding that was meant for the trial as well.

Zlokovic’s leave was announced by Carolyn Meltzer, dean of the USC Keck School of Medicine, in an October 22 email to the school’s faculty, according to the investigation. Zlokovic also stepped down as the head of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, and as co-director of USC’s federally funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

The earlier Science investigation cited a large dossier that showed image manipulation in dozens of articles co-authored by Zlokovic. Several of those studies involved an experimental drug that reportedly reduced brain damage in people who suffered ischemic strokes. However, the investigation uncovered evidence that this drug may have an increased risk of death in trial participants.

Science reported that Zlokovic could not be reached for comment about his leave of absence.

Opioid Recovery Community Rejects Addiction Medicines

The addiction recovery community, led by groups like Narcotics Anonymous, has continued to reject addiction medications like buprenorphine or methadone despite evidence of their life-saving potential, according to a STAT investigation.

Thousands of organizations that claim to support those struggling with opioid addiction are very hostile to these effective addiction medications, the investigation found.

Individuals who have participated in Narcotics Anonymous or been residents of detox facilities and rehab centers described a culture that rejected medical consensus around addiction medicine and attempted to silence anyone who dissented, according to STAT.

For example, residents of recovery housing programs have been evicted for taking methadone or buprenorphine, STAT reported. Similarly, individuals seeking to enter rehab and detox facilities are only admitted if they are not taking those medications or if they agree to wean off of them quickly.

Many in the addiction recovery community see methadone or buprenorphine as mind-altering drugs that are no better than heroin or fentanyl. Leaders of addiction recovery support groups will tell individuals taking those medications that they aren’t “clean” yet.

Meanwhile, there is limited evidence that those support groups offer effective recovery support, according to the investigation.

Idaho Lags Behind Nation in Coroner’s Investigations

Due to a lack of regulations and undertrained, publicly elected coroners, Idaho has the nation’s lowest autopsy rate for child deaths attributed to unnatural or unknown causes, according to ProPublica.

While some states hire licensed forensic pathologists to be county medical examiners, Idaho elects coroners who often do not have a medical degree, or even any formal training in the field, ProPublica reported. Although many other states follow this practice, ProPublica found that Idaho also lacks other regulations, such as a professional oversight board, requirements for autopsies for unexpected or unexplained child deaths, or even funding to conduct services like body transportation.

According to the investigation, one of the few existing requirements is that newly elected coroners must attend “coroner’s school” in their first year, and continue to accrue 24 hours of training every 2 years. However, there are no penalties for failing to comply. ProPublica found that 1 in 4 coroners in Idaho have repeatedly fallen short of those requirements.

As a result, just 49% of those unnatural or unknown deaths were autopsied in Idaho from 2018 through 2022, which was far below the national average of 79%, according to a review by the state.

One county coroner profiled in the story, Rick Taylor, reportedly only works part-time despite earning more than $95,000 a year. Taylor has come under scrutiny in the state for failing to properly handle cases, including those involving unexpected or unexplained child deaths.

In one case, he reportedly declined to perform an autopsy on a newborn who was pronounced dead within minutes of arriving at the local hospital. Other officials in the state believed Taylor’s handling of the case fell short of a coroner’s expected responsibilities, ProPublica reported.