188 - [AMA #30 Sneak Peek] How to Read and Understand Scientific Studies

Watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3e4ibB4

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter and Bob dive deep into all things related to studying studies to help one sift through all the noise to find the signal. They define the various types of studies, how a study progresses from idea to execution, and how to identify study strengths and limitations. They explain how clinical trials work, as well as the potential for bias and common pitfalls to watch out for. They dig into key factors that contribute to the rigor (or lack thereof) of an experiment, and they discuss how to measure effect size, differentiate relative risk from absolute risk, and what it really means when a study is statistically significant. Finally, Peter lays out his personal process when reading through scientific papers.

In this sneak peek, we discuss:
00:00 - Intro
00:10 - The ever changing landscape of scientific literature
02:44 - The process for a study to progress from idea to design to execution
06:39 - The various types of studies and how they differ
20:22 - The different phases of a clinical trial

In the full episode, we also discuss:
-Observational studies and the potential for bias;
-Experimental studies: Randomization, blinding, and other factors that make or break a study;
-Power, p-values, and statistical significance;
-Measuring effect size: Relative risk vs. absolute risk, hazard ratios, and “Number Needed to Treat”;
-How to interpret confidence intervals;
-Why a study might be stopped before its completion;
-Why only a fraction of studies are ever published and how to combat publication bias;
-Why certain journals are more respected than others;
-Peter’s process when reading a scientific paper; and
More.

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About:

The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 35 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life).

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