Research Index entry · Study
A protein released by tumors cleared plaques in mice
- Evidence
- Mice
- Source
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Added
- 21 October 2026
What it is
People with cancer are less often diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. A 2026 mouse study offers one possible reason: tumors released cystatin C, a protein that reached the brain and prompted its immune cells, microglia, to break down amyloid plaques.
Where it stands
- Lab discovery
- Animal studies
- First studies in people
- Large trials
- Approved
Mouse results. The interest is in the protein as a drug lead, not in cancer itself.
Update timeline
What changed
Newest first. Only changes to the subject itself appear here: new information, or something proven wrong.
- WatchingThe Scouts look again every Friday
Only new information or a correction shows up here, not another mention of the same thing.
- No changes yet
Nothing new or corrected since this entry was added.
Research connections
Why these belong together
A connection has to say what it adds. Shared keywords alone don’t count.
Study · Journals
A protein complex that helps neurons dispose of tauBoth are about how the brain clears a harmful protein: amyloid here, tau there.
Lab · human cellsVideo · YouTube
What Sleep Does to Your BrainAnother way the brain clears waste: the nightly flush during sleep.
Explainer