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September 19, 2024 • 10:00 am
$5The 55-Plus Club of Princeton will meet on Thursday, September 19, at ten a.m., in person at the Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, and via Zoom at https://princetonol.com/groups/ 55plus/. Gina Kolata, Medical reporter/Health and Science Desk at The New York Times, will speak on “Beethoven’s Hair.”
When the revered composer lay dying, devoted fans clipped locks of his hair for keepsakes. Several of those locks remain and have been authenticated. What can they tell us about his genetics and his health? And what about his deafness? The answers contain surprises that could only have been revealed with today’s sophisticated science.
Gina Kolata is especially intrigued by advances that can change lives, like the new obesity drugs and gene therapies. She is also drawn to ethical dilemmas, like whether you should know if you have a gene mutation that could lead to an incurable, fatal disease, such as early Alzheimer’s. She is touched by stories that show the kindness and passion of patients, doctors and researchers, and is humbly grateful to those who are willing to describe their personal struggles and triumphs.