Cancer might protect against Alzheimer’s — this protein helps explain why A molecule produced by cancer cells can shield the brain from Alzheimer’s disease in mice. By Heidi Ledford

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00222-7?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=f4f2b22b7f-nature-briefing-daily-20260123&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Cystatin C, a protein produced by cancer cells, could partially explain why people who have had cancer have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In a study in mice, researchers found that the protein can infiltrate the brain and bind to the molecules that make up the hallmark brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. This interaction draws the attention of immune cells, which then degrade the plaques. If confirmed in humans, the findings could suggest a path toward new therapies for Alzheimer’s, says cancer researcher Jeanne Mandelblatt.