A new study suggests that a blood protein called GDF15 could help identify people at risk of dementia years before symptoms appear. Researchers followed more than half a million individuals for up to 25 years and found that higher GDF15 levels before age 55 were linked to a significantly greater risk of developing dementia later in life, particularly vascular dementia. Elevated GDF15 was also associated with brain shrinkage and damage to small blood vessels, even in people with normal memory and thinking abilities. While more research is needed, this simple blood test could one day help detect dementia risk early and support timely prevention strategies.
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