Memyts and Dr. Carson
Executive summary
Ben Carson’s name has repeatedly been attached to Memyts-style memory supplement scams and deepfake endorsements, but multiple fact-checks and Carson’s representatives say he has not endorsed such products and there is no evidence these cures work; there is also no cure for Alzheimer’s disease as claimed in the ads [1] [2] [3]. Social-media marketing techniques — fabricated headlines, doctored audio/video and fake regulatory certificates — are the consistent through-line in reporting about these schemes [1] [3] [4].
1. What the claims say and where they appeared
Online adverts and viral posts claim high-profile figures — in different iterations, Ben Carson, Reba McEntire, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and others — have endorsed nasal sprays, diets or “memory” supplements that supposedly reverse dementia in weeks; the AlzClipp/Memyts pages even display counterfeit FDA approval certificates and reworked news thumbnails to sell products [3] [1] [2]. Fact-checkers found multiple versions that swap celebs or journalists into fabricated articles and videos, a tactic designed to lend false credibility to otherwise unproven remedies [3] [1].
2. Ben Carson’s connection: repeated, but false endorsements
News organizations and fact-checkers report that Carson’s name and image have been used in screenshots, ads and altered videos claiming he discovered cures for dementia or high blood pressure; Carson’s nonprofit and representatives have denied any endorsement and said he had no involvement with the products promoted [1] [2]. AFP and Reuters reporting shows the headlines and clips are fabricated and that Carson’s spokespeople told fact-checkers the claims are “fake and a scam” [1] [2].
3. The evidence against the ads’ medical claims
Medical experts and regulatory checks undermine the advertised remedies: there is no scientifically validated cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and advertised products such as “AlzClipp” do not appear in FDA approval databases despite claims on promo sites [3]. AFP explicitly noted that altered audio was used in clips and that medical experts found no evidence the spray or supplements are effective; Reuters likewise documented no endorsement or discovery by Carson [3] [2].
4. The mechanics: deepfakes, fake headlines and health-fraud playbooks
Fact-checkers and media-forensics labs have identified deepfake-style manipulation and recycled fabricated headlines as central tools used in these scams; a university media forensics lab and Lead Stories determined videos purporting to show Carson endorsing products were doctored, and the FDA warns that health-fraud scams proliferate on social platforms [4] [1]. Reporting shows promoters also create counterfeit regulatory imagery and clone reputable outlets’ look-and-feel to trick consumers into trusting the claims [3] [1].
5. Motives, alternate narratives and vested interests
The financial motive is explicit: these campaigns are commercial — driving sales of expensive supplements or one-off products — while using celebrity names to shortcut trust [1]. Alternative explanations exist for why such clips circulate: some share them in ignorance rather than malice, and some outlets that amplify the stories may not vet ads carefully; nevertheless, AFP and Reuters emphasize that organized marketing operations behind the pages profit from hope and the information asymmetry around dementia [1] [2]. Carson’s wider public profile and past scrutiny over other contested anecdotes make him an attractive target for scammers seeking recognizable authority figures [5] [6].
6. What reporting does and does not show — and what to watch for
Available reporting demonstrates that Carson did not endorse Memyts-style products and that the medical claims lack regulatory or scientific backing, but public sources do not map every promoter or provide a full legal accounting of the scam networks; fact-checks document the false ads and doctored media but cannot always trace payments or identify every operator [1] [3]. Consumers are advised to treat celebrity endorsements found only in social ads skeptically, check FDA databases for approvals and rely on primary medical sources for Alzheimer’s information, while recognizing that fact-checking outlets (AFP, Reuters) and media-forensics labs have repeatedly flagged these specific misuses of Carson’s likeness [3] [1] [4].