Google accused of profiting from misleading dementia supplement ads
pharmafile | March 26, 2019 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Alzheimer's, dementia, google, pseudomedicine, search engines, tech
Google has been accused of profiting from false hope after running adverts for unproven dementia treatments which can cost as much as £38 a month.
The tech giant was reported to have charged between £1 and £3 a click to run adverts for what experts have called ‘pseudomedicnie’.
Users were shown the misleading adverts for ‘brain supplements,’ after searching for terms such as ‘Alzheimer’s pills’ and ‘dementia supplements’. Furthermore the ads often ran ahead of information from reputable organisations.
“Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be devastating,” The Alzheimer’s Society’s Fiona Carragher told The Times.
“It’s unacceptable for companies to exploit people who are in a vulnerable position by trying to sell unproven treatments.”
“It’s incredibly concerning if people looking for information on dementia drugs aren’t receiving the right support or treatment.”
Dr Joanna Hellmuth, from the University of California, San Francisco, commented: “This $3.2-billion industry promoting brain health benefits from high- penetration consumer advertising through print media, radio, television, and the internet.”
“No known dietary supplement prevents cognitive decline or dementia. Indeed, supplements may cause harm, as has been shown with vitamin E, which may increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke, and, in high doses, increase risk of death.”
Google has now stopped selling adverts under the terms ‘Alzheimer’s pills’ and ‘dementia supplements’ a Google spokesperson said.
“We have strict policies that govern the kinds of ads we allow on our platform, and ads for products that offer “miracle cures” for medical ailments are a violation of those policies. When we find ads that violate our policies, we remove them.”
Louis Goss
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