As Madoff pleads guity to one of the biggest scams in history, I want to point out an impact of his criminal activity that many may not appreciate. This sleaze's crimes are really far, far worse than any street criminal whose crimes may hurt some immediate victims because Madoff's crimes hurts many, many more people.

Back in January I was talking to a professor who had just given a talk at NYU Medical Center. One of the main topics of conversation was the economic collapse and, in particular, the Madoff scandal. He related to us an incident that illustrates just how disusting and damaging Madoff's crime spree was. Among Madoff's hardest hit clients was the Picower Foundation, a funding agency that funds neurological research. Work funded by these people studies the deepest aspects of how the brain works and how memory is formed. Some of the headlines coming from work they helped fund include:

Growth hormone could help reverse autism-like condition

Possible Treatment For Neurological Disorder Rett Syndrome -- Most Common Basis Of Autism In Girls  read more »