It's all relative: Protein marks lower dementia risk in siblings

Rising levels of C-reactive protein are usually a sign of inflammation, unless they are found in elderly people without dementia, where they can mark a reduced risk of disease in parents and siblings. Researchers measured the levels of C-reactive protein in elderly men who were dementia-free, and found that those with higher levels of the protein were around a third less likely to have relatives with dementia than those with lower levels, and that the higher levels were associated with better memory. The research was published in Neurology, and could lead to drugs to treat or prevent dementia. Abstract | Press release