26 June 2026
Those under 55 with relatively high levels of the molecule GDF15 had an elevated risk of developing dementia.
Levels of a protein in the blood were linked to the risk of vascular dementia, which is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain (green; arteries in yellow, veins in blue). Credit: Zephyr/Science Photo Library
Dementia often begins changing the brain many years before memory problems appear. Researchers have now found that a protein in the blood of middle-aged people might help to identify those likely to develop dementia later in life1.
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