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--- Re: NIH Favoritism to AIDS Grossly Unfair
"Mary Gordon" news:40b9e4c0.0307211453.1dc450c9@posting.google.com... > Couple of thoughts on this > - for starters, a LOT of the chronic diseases that cause so much > suffering and contribute to shortened lives involve immune system > disorders - so AIDs related research into the immune system and the > fundamentals of how it works is very likely to have spin off benefits > for other diseases. Not just autoimmune diseases, but also problems > caused by chronic inflammation like heart disease. And if you could > turn the immune system on and off, you also might have a hope of > dealing with cancers in a better way than slash, burn and poison. > > - North Americans don't live in a vaccuum. HIV is a growing problem > globally, and will contribute to some devastating problems and > political instability. Are we that stupid that we think we could let > entire continents suffer and die and just stand by and do nothing, and > think it will have no impact on us? > > Mary G Dear Mary, There is another thought that came into my mind when I saw the statistics. AIDS captures the interest and sympathy (and hence the research dollars) because it affects the young, otherwise healthy, productive members of society, or even the innocent babies of those who are infected. Alzheimers (excepting in the case of early onset) affects the elderly, those who have lived their lives, had their children, often retired people. It is every bit as much a tragedy, but somehow the public sympathizes more with the young. It is natural to do so. There are just so many research dollars to spread around, and there are so many awful illnesses out there, and there just isn't enough to deal with them all. The fact that an entire generation is being wiped out from AIDS in some places in the world, is a horrible and frightening prospect. I think that it is totally a natural human feeling to try and protect the young first. In an ideal world there would be greater equity.... and this isn't an ideal world, it is just the only one we've got. -- Evelyn "Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst into laughter." -Longchenpa
Evelyn Ruut wrote: > "Mary Gordon" > news:40b9e4c0.0307211453.1dc450c9@posting.google.com... > >>Couple of thoughts on this >>- for starters, a LOT of the chronic diseases that cause so much >>suffering and contribute to shortened lives involve immune system >>disorders - so AIDs related research into the immune system and the >>fundamentals of how it works is very likely to have spin off benefits >>for other diseases. Not just autoimmune diseases, but also problems >>caused by chronic inflammation like heart disease. And if you could >>turn the immune system on and off, you also might have a hope of >>dealing with cancers in a better way than slash, burn and poison. >> >>- North Americans don't live in a vaccuum. HIV is a growing problem >>globally, and will contribute to some devastating problems and >>political instability. Are we that stupid that we think we could let >>entire continents suffer and die and just stand by and do nothing, and >>think it will have no impact on us? >> >>Mary G > > > > > Dear Mary, > > There is another thought that came into my mind when I saw the statistics. > AIDS captures the interest and sympathy (and hence the research dollars) > because it affects the young, otherwise healthy, productive members of > society, or even the innocent babies of those who are infected. > > Alzheimers (excepting in the case of early onset) affects the elderly, those > who have lived their lives, had their children, often retired people. It > is every bit as much a tragedy, but somehow the public sympathizes more with > the young. It is natural to do so. While I agree with what you are saying, I am currently dealing with a health issue that the doctors have diagnosed as having since birth: End stage renal failure and diabetes. Basically, genetically predisposed. Plus, there are other diseases that also affect the young (and even the pre-born if genetics are any indication. They don't even have a fighting chance, IMO). So, if indeed the numbers quoted are correct, then IMO we have a problem. One ailment/disease shouldn't hold precedence over another. Equal funding would benefit everyone in the long run. -- ~LadySyc~ "Your 'right' doesn't make me 'wrong'" Mr. T.Jones Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. re-87 "There is no reality, just perception." Dr. Phil Related Discussion: Lots of good Info! (1 posts) Buisness (1 posts) Diabetic Breakthrough (7 posts) Available Clinical Trials (11 posts) Top Discussions From Our Archives Celebex, Vioxx, Bextra, R.I.P. Other Discussion Categories Diabetes Symptoms Health Care Policy Health Care Providers HMO Arthritis Symptoms Oops!!! Unexpected Error While Reading the Feed
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