Inhibition of the signal transduction pathway for Interleukin 6 mediated inflammation is key to the prevention and treatment of aging and age-related disorders including atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and some forms of arthritis and cancer. Here, IL6 is linked to early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease.