Influencers deploy complex scientific language about circadian rhythms or dopamine regulation to sell 21st-century snake oil" My latest for @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/article/soci...

In a special recording at this month's Nuffield Trust Summit, the @bmj.com podcast explored the challenge of tackling health misinformation. Joining @kamranabbasi.bsky.social on the expert panel: @debscohen.bsky.social, Kamila Hawthorne, and Nnenna Osuji. Listen here: buff.ly/H9QCuWb

Thank you @cwjoneschris.bsky.social for my Mother’s Day gift, can’t wait to read @debscohen.bsky.social

In a world of short attention spans, strong views and increasingly varied sources of information, should we be concerned about how we care for the nation’s health? Our #ntsummit panel will dive headfirst into the debate. Register to watch on Thursday: buff.ly/RSiCok6

For what promises to be a fascinating discussion about polarisation, health policy and science, we’ll hear from @debscohen.bsky.social, Samira Ben Omar and Mark Henderson. Chaired by our Director of Communications and External Affairs, @leonoramerry.bsky.social. #ntsummit buff.ly/RSiCok6

This recent RCT of an "AI stethoscope" claims the technology "shows promise" for diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. It does not. It is a textbook example of the risks of conducting unprincipled 'per protocol analyses'. Once again, peer review at a major medical journal has failed. 🧵 1/

www.bmj.com/content/392/... @debscohen.bsky.social in the BMJ on multicancer detection tests. Tl;dr Still doesn't work.

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”. “But is there net public health benefit or harm?” At time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved this. Will the NHS trial change that? www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”. “But is there net public health benefit or harm?” At the time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved public health. Will NHS trial change that? www.bmj.com/content/392/...

A few years ago, Grail launched NHS trial of Galleri 50 cancer test, despite concerns from experts about its sensitivity as @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & I reported for @bmj.com & the BBC. Today investors were told main endpoint- a statistically significant drop in Stage III–IV cancers was not met

This is my friend! You should read this book, it’s really good AND as an added topical bonus, I make a cameo to criticise Peter Attia! Haha, excellent timing 😂 Honestly it really is a corker, if you are interested in the whole murky world of online medical influencers, it’s a great overview

The benefits of using the internet to ask medical questions are clear. Yet Deborah Cohen, author of “Bad Influence”, is not convinced technological progress is making people healthier

Recommended listening from @kamranabbasi.bsky.social and @debscohen.bsky.social about Deb's book Bad Influence on how social media is affecting health and driving unnecessary and potentially harmful testing and treatment. open.spotify.com/episode/6EiB...

Can’t wait to read Bad Influence by Deb, meanwhile I recommend listening to @bmj.com podcast. Where commercial meets social determinants of health, it doesn’t go well. We see this play out each day in practice, undermining #NHS & its practitioners. No easy answers, recognition 1st step.

In this conversation with @bmj.com Editor, @kamranabbasi.bsky.social , we discuss the ways in which online information can both empower and mislead, the role of big tech in shaping our wellbeing and the complex and disturbing ways wellness influencers are becoming more trusted than the NHS.

I've finally been published in Nature...sort of! Amazing review of my book "Bad Influence". "Her deeply reported, compelling analysis lays bare how social-media influencers, apps, algorithms and the rest of the digital ecosystem are transforming our health" www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Bad Influence is a brilliant new book by @debscohen.bsky.social - I’m learning so much about the impact of the internet on people’s perceptions of their health - disturbing and eye opening

The rise of the commodified self...my op ed in @newscientist.com Health tech, apps, diagnostics, online clinics, influencers- all competing for authority, and figuring out how to monetise it. There is a whole parallel system powered by consumer health www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

Well I wasn’t expecting that… went out for a few bevvies and ended up signing a book I didn’t even know had been published...

Thrilled my book Bad Influence featured by Stylist. This "fascinating" & "terrifying dive into 21st century healthcare should be mandatory reading". Showing how social media leads to "dark corners" "Read this book & become instantly better informed, self-aware & outraged"

Amid fierce criticism, I spoke to critics & triallists about the puberty blocker trial, putting methodological & ethical concerns to researchers & Hilary Cass for @bmj.com. They describe clinical context, challenge criticism & say studies are necessary. (open access) www.bmj.com/content/391/...

In 2019 I got leaked US UK trade deal docs that suggested there would be drug price rises. I reported on the docs for BBC Newsnight. There was outcry from certain sectors & a certain ex leader of the opposition took up the case. Interesting to see this has actually come to pass

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Multi cancer detection tests Till we've better evidence definitely more hype than hope in my view Good show @debscohen.bsky.social

I'm never quite sure how much of the nice stuff people say about my book, Bad Influence, I should share. But these are the first two reviews in and they're from people I really admire. So I thought I'd indulge myself a bit...

I am thrilled to share that Bad Influence has been selected by @waterstones.bsky.social for an exclusive pre-order promotion  Get 25% off when you order this week using code OCTOBER25. waterstones.com/book/bad-influ…#WPreorderer (Apols for music...couldn't resist)

In the words of one prof of evidence synthesis: "This is going to be great - exposing the snake oil pushers of the modern age. With modern technology and a global market at their fingertips, they have never been more dangerous to our health."

You can tell I'm not in sales and marketing...my mate just DM'd me "where's the preorder link you, nobhead?" So here is it: amzn.eu/d/hRYd9fI

New book klaxon: I finally piss EVERYONE off! What happens when you put health on platforms geared for shopping, PR & entertainment? What's medicine and what's marketing? And what impact is it having on health? (In public health lingo -it's commercial meets digital determinants of health)

Chris Whitty bringing a huge amount of scepticism and sense to 'misinformation' debate. He's not focusing on individuals but the behaviour of the likes tobacco, fossil fuel and drug companies @lshtm.bsky.social

This is excellent and highly worth reading as many of the points highlighted are relevant to other similarly well intentioned appearing schemes. I almost signed up but was put off by exactly these concerns, however the article raises many I hadn’t thought of. @mgtmccartney.bsky.social

Interesting debate around 'Our Future Health' Read more 👇 "scale & ambition praiseworthy, esp for enrolling people from ethnic minority & low income backgrounds" BUT consent, transparency & commercial interest concerns @kathcheckland.bsky.social @publichealthuom.bsky.social @ewenspeed.bsky.social

Good to see @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & @debscohen.bsky.social back out on tour

The UK’s flagship health research programme promises breakthroughs, but beneath an NHS branded facade, critics are asking who really benefits from this vast database, heavily backed by industry and government. @mgtmccartney.bsky.social and I investigate www.bmj.com/content/390/...

Women are disproportionally targeted with medical misinformation, and put at unique risk by it. Tonight @debscohen.bsky.social and myself will discuss some of the reasons why and how to counter it. Still tickets available if you'd like to join us online.. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/countering...

Anyone know where Anfield is?!

Self promo klaxon....Delighted to be signed up to the Specialist Speakers Bureau...want to know more about communicating complexity, controversy and evidence. Hit me up! specialistspeakers.com/?p=16769

Podcasters, YouTubers, influencers…these are not journalists. Some can be! But they’re in the tiny minority. We’ve sleepwalked into, well some have welcomed it, a far shittier world of spon con, financial conflicts and uncritical fluffing. The tragedy is ppl don’t even realise what they’ve lost.

My and @mgtmccartney.bsky.social critical look at Zoe for both Unherd and The BMJ has sure had legs.... Great to see our work being cited in today's Economist economist.com/britain/2025...

Great talking to academics at LSE about how researchers can work with journalists to hold health systems, companies, policy makers etc to account. Research + investigative journalism can drive change in policy & practice. But how you do it in a rapidly changing media landscape?

Gender dysphoria and the background to a puberty blocker drug trial for children. And what is equipoise anyway ?? Detailed and v helpful explainer by @debscohen.bsky.social

from me and @debscohen.bsky.social on early diagnosis unherd.com/2025/01/the-...

Had a few DMs from people sharing experiences of false positives with unnecessary & anxiety inducing clinical cascade. Asymptomatic people having ECGs leading to A&E attendances; nervous weeks off work to explore incidentalomas. But we tend to hear the stories about how this test saved my life

Excellent journalism as always; also always brings to mind the scene from Scrubs youtu.be/R9hEa8LKG4c?...

Thinking about health screening? Read this first

Spotify's Daniel Ek's latest tech is Neko Health. Its full body scans a "health check for your future self". Tech enthusiasts are applying mechanistic thinking to complexities of the body. But it's not so simple. @mgtmccartney.bsky.social and and me for @unherd.com unherd.com/2025/01/the-...

Clear laying out of the issues around gaining reliable evidence on the effect of puberty blockers by @deb_cohen

My first for the BBC for a while. I look at key methodological & ethical considerations about NHS puberty blocker trial for children w gender dysphoria. Is there equipoise? Will a placebo arm be feasible? It’s one of the most challenging clinical issues imaginable www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A new piece about the attempt to run a serious research trial on puberty blocking drugs for gender dysphoria in young people by @debscohen.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...